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Preserving the entanglement of quantum bits is essential for the operation for all quantum technologies. Here, the geometric nature of spins in a diamond nitrogen vacancy is leveraged to improve the fidelity of entanglement with a spontaneously emitted photon.

The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has affected millions of lives, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. With >772 million cases and nearly seven million deaths reported worldwide to date, the development of vaccines has been a critical step in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. However, concerns have arisen regarding the potential for SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination to trigger autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The present single-center, retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical and pathological features of AIH in patients with or without a history of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. A total of 72 patients with AIH were examined. Among them, 10 had received the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination prior to AIH onset. These patients exhibited more pronounced CD4+ T cell infiltration into the liver tissue compared with those who were unvaccinated. No significant differences in the levels of other liver enzymes, autoimmune antibodies, or CD8+ T cell infiltration were observed between the groups. Moreover, the AIH patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination had more extensive CD4+ T cell infiltration in their liver tissues than the unvaccinated patients. These findings suggested that the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination may influence the pathogenesis of AIH, highlighting the need for further research into the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and autoimmune liver diseases. Such studies will also help clarify the distinction between vaccine-induced liver injury and traditional AIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The landscape of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including immune checkpoint inhibitors, has expanded significantly. However, unresectable HCC patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) continue to face a poor prognosis. This investigation examined the survival outcomes and determinants influencing survival rates in advanced HCC patients with PVTT undergoing treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ+BEV) or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Patients and Methods: Between December 2003 and June 2023, 48 advanced HCC with PVTT underwent treatment with either ATZ+BEV (16 patients) or HAIC (32 patients). Results: The analysis revealed no significant disparities in overall survival (OS) or treatment efficacy between the ATZ+BEV and HAIC groups (ATZ+BEV: 10.0 months, HAIC: 15.3 months). Treatment with either ATZ+BEV or HAIC resulted in minimal alterations in the ALBI score and preserved hepatic function. Independent prognostic factors for OS, identified via multivariate logistic regression, included serum a-fetoprotein levels >400 ng/ml [hazard ratio (HR)=1.94; p=0.001], the existence of more than five tumors (HR=1.55; p=0.043), and the Child-Pugh score (HR=2.53; p=0.002). Conclusion: This investigation revealed no significant variance in OS and response rates between patients receiving ATZ+BEV and those treated with HAIC. The survival of advanced HCC patients with PVTT is intricately linked to the preservation of liver function, emphasizing the necessity for additional research to enhance treatment approaches for this patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Numerous agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, are now available for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. Most trials involving systemic chemotherapy have included patients with Child-Pugh class A, while excluding or minimally enrolling those with Child-Pugh class B, due to liver dysfunctionrelated mortality. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for survival in Child-Pugh class B patients receiving sorafenib (SOR), lenvatinib (LEN), atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ+BEV), or hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Patients and Methods: From December 2003 to June 2023, 137 patients with advanced HCC receiving systemic chemotherapies (SOR: n=43, LEN: n=16, ATZ+BEV: n=18, HAIC: n=60) were enrolled. Results: Overall survival (OS) and response rates did not differ significantly across treatments (SOR: 8.3 months, LEN: 10.2 months, ATZ+BEV: 8.5 months, HAIC: 7.3 months). Patients on HAIC and LEN had a lower rate of discontinuing treatment within three months compared to those on ATZ+BEV and SOR. HAIC was associated with fewer changes in ALBI score and better preservation of liver function. Multivariate logistic regression identified serum a-fetoprotein >400 ng/ml [hazard ratio (HR)=1.94; p=0.001], tumor count >5 (HR=1.55; p=0.043), and Child-Pugh score (HR=2.53; p=0.002) as independent predictors of OS. Conclusion: OS and response rates were similar across systemic chemotherapies. Prognosis for HCC in Child-Pugh class B patients was associated with liver function, necessitating further research for optimal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab is an approved systemic chemotherapy regimen for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as atezolizumab, frequently lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The identification of biomarkers that can predict the occurrence of irAEs is crucial for the optimal management of patients undergoing ICI treatment. Patients and Methods: Between October 2020 and June 2023, we conducted a study involving 69 patients with advanced HCC who received treatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. We conducted an analysis of blood-based biomarkers to identify independent risk factors associated with irAEs. Results: In our study, 12 out of 69 patients (17.4%) experienced irAEs. Our investigation into blood-based biomarkers revealed that a neutrophil--tolymphocyte ratio (NLR) <2.04 at three weeks after the initiation of treatment had high predictive power (area under the curve: 0.77) for irAEs. Furthermore, multivariate logistic analysis identified NLR at three weeks (hazard ratio=0.23; p=0.037) and non-viral infection (hazard ratio=4.47; p=0.037) as independent factors contributing to the occurrence of irAEs. Patients who developed irAEs demonstrated a more favorable overall response rate (75.0% vs. 28.1%, p=0.005), disease control rate (91.6% vs. 52.6%, p=0.016), and progression-free survival (12.1 months vs. 6.0 months, p=0.010) than those who did not experience irAEs. Conclusion: An NLR <2.04 at three weeks after the initiation of treatment may serve as a valuable biomarker for predicting irAEs in patients with HCC undergoing atezolizumab plus bevacizumab therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Systemic chemotherapy with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab is approved for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is necessary to identify probable predictive biomarkers for chemotherapies. HCC with rim arterial-phase enhancement (APHE) has been linked to aggressive tumor activity. Patients and Methods: We studied the efficacy of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for HCC using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging features. In total, 51 HCC patients who underwent CT or MRI were classified by the feature of rim APHE. Results: Clinical responses to chemotherapy were evaluated, and among those who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, there were 10 (19.6%) patients with rim APHE and 41 (80.4%) patients without rim APHE. We found that patients with rim APHE had a better response than those without rim APHE, and patients with rim APHE had longer median progression-free survival compared with those without rim APHE (p=0.026). Furthermore, liver tumor biopsy showed that HCC with rim APHE had a higher proportion of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (p<0.01). Conclusion: Rim APHE in CT/MRI imaging might be a noninvasive biomarker for predicting response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene deletion is one of the standard approaches in genetics to investigate the roles and functions of target genes. However, the influence of gene deletion on cellular phenotypes is usually analyzed sometime after the gene deletion was introduced. Such lags from gene deletion to phenotype evaluation could select only the fittest fraction of gene-deleted cells and hinder the detection of potentially diverse phenotypic consequences. Therefore, dynamic aspects of gene deletion, such as real-time propagation and compensation of deletion effects on cellular phenotypes, still need to be explored. To resolve this issue, we have recently introduced a new method that combines a photoactivatable Cre recombination system and microfluidic single-cell observation. This method enables us to induce gene deletion at desired timings in single bacterial cells and to monitor their dynamics for prolonged periods. Here, we detail the protocol for estimating the fractions of gene-deleted cells based on a batch-culture assay. The duration of blue light exposure significantly affects the fractions of gene-deleted cells. Therefore, gene-deleted and non-deleted cells can coexist in a cellular population by adjusting the duration of blue light exposure. Single-cell observations under such illumination conditions allow the comparison of temporal dynamics between gene-deleted and non-deleted cells and unravel phenotypic dynamics provoked by gene deletion.

Genetic modifications, such as gene deletion and mutations, could lead to significant changes in physiological states or even cell death. Bacterial cells can adapt to diverse external stresses, such as antibiotic exposure, but can they also adapt to detrimental genetic modification? To address this issue, we visualized the response of individual Escherichia coli cells to deletion of the antibiotic resistance gene under chloramphenicol (Cp) exposure, combining the light-inducible genetic recombination and microfluidic long-term single-cell tracking. We found that a significant fraction (∼40%) of resistance-gene-deleted cells demonstrated a gradual restoration of growth and stably proliferated under continuous Cp exposure without the resistance gene. Such physiological adaptation to genetic modification was not observed when the deletion was introduced in 10 hr or more advance before Cp exposure. Resistance gene deletion under Cp exposure disrupted the stoichiometric balance of ribosomal large and small subunit proteins (RplS and RpsB). However, the balance was gradually recovered in the cell lineages with restored growth. These results demonstrate that bacterial cells can adapt even to lethal genetic modifications by plastically gaining physiological resistance. However, the access to the resistance states is limited by the environmental histories and the timings of genetic modification.

Edge-defined fed-grown β-Ga2O3 single crystals with high electron concentration of 3.9 × 1018 cm−3 at 300 K were characterized by Hall effect measurement, and Schottky barrier diodes have been demonstrated. Electron mobility was as high as 74 cm2/(V·s) at 300 K regardless of the high doping concentration. The electron concentration did not change substantially in the low temperature below 160 K. This properties can be explained by the two-band model due to the inter-band conduction. On the Schottky barrier diodes, the rectification characteristics were clearly observed, and the current density of 96.8 A/cm2 at the forward voltage of 1.6 V was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-Hall-electron-mobility and high-performance Schottky barrier diodes for edge-defined fed-grown () β-Ga2O3 single crystals have been demonstrated. A high electron mobility of 886 cm2/(V·s) at 85 K was obtained. By theoretical specific scattering mechanisms, it was found that the electron mobility for >200 K is limited by optical phonon scattering and that for <100 K by ionized impurity scattering. On Schottky barrier diodes with Ni contacts, the current density for the forward voltage was 70.3 A/cm2 at 2.0 V, and a nearly ideal ideality factor of 1.01 was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]