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Venous collateral shunting of blood from the splanchnic to systemic venous systems due to portal hypertension increases the pressure in the ventral lingual venous bed. We hypothesized that the appearance of sublingual varices evaluated by pre-endoscopy/bedside visual inspection of ventrum of tongue (VIVOT) might predict the presence of esophageal varices (EVs). Methods: To test this hypothesis, we prospectively enrolled patients with cirrhosis (CP) referred for EV screening for assessment of lingual vasculature after informed consent. Non-cirrhosis control patients were also enrolled. Methods: VIVOT was scored based on the presence of vessels > 2 mm and/or serpiginous veins. VIVOT scores were then correlated with endoscopic findings. Results: A total of 59 patients with cirrhosis (Group 1) were enrolled, as were 62 patients without cirrhosis (Group 2). Group 1 consisted of 100% male patients with mean age 59.5 ± 5.4 years; 39.0% were African American (AA). Group 2 consisted of 86% male patients, 59.0 ± 13 years and 53% AA. Among Group 1 patients, varices were present in 29% (16 esophageal and 3 gastric). There were no demographic differences among Group 1 patients with or without varices. Positive VIVOT scores were associated with EVs on endoscopy in 11 of 16 patients (sensitivity 68.75%). Positive VIVOT findings were present in 8 of 40 patients without EVs (specificity 80%). False-positive VIVOT scores were present in 6 of 62 non-cirrhotic controls. Overall, the positive predictive value among patients with cirrhosis was 59% with a negative predictive value of 84%. Conclusions: VIVOT has modest values in predicting EVs and should not be used alone to stratify patients for endoscopic evaluation when elastography and laboratory tests are available; however, its use in resource-limited settings to identify high-risk patients may be considered.

Viologen-based photochromic materials with photochromicity and photoluminescence have great advantages in anti-counterfeiting applications. Two novel viologen-based multifunctional Ln-MOFs Eu2Cl(m-bpybdc)L2(NO3)2·(H2O)5 (1) and Tb2Cl(m-bpybdc)L2(NO3)2·(H2O)6 (2) (m-bpybdc = 1,1′-bis(3-carboxyphenyl)-4,4′-bipyridinium and H2L = isophthalic acid) with three-dimensional structures were synthesized solvothermally. Both compounds exhibited reversible discoloration in response to external light and electrical stimulation. Notably, compound 1 presented strong fluorescence under ultraviolet light, showing the characteristic red emission of Eu3+. We further explored the application of these compounds in the field of anti-counterfeiting. These results provide useful data on the structure, luminescence, and light response of viologen-based lanthanide coordination polymers for their effective application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundSystemic nutritional and inflammatory markers, which are easy to measure are associated with the progression and prognosis of many cancers. Nevertheless, among the various available indicators, optimal prognostic indicators for patients with early-onset colorectal cancer have not been identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify optimal nutritional and inflammatory markers for early-onset colorectal cancer and examine the relationship between systemic nutritional and inflammatory markers before treatment and survival in patients with early-onset colorectal cancer.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data from 236 eligible patients with early-onset colorectal cancer. Area under the prognostic curve (AUC) and concordance index (C-index) were used to compare seven systemic nutritional and inflammatory markers to identify the optimal inflammatory immune markers. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic value of indicators in the total study population and different subgroups.ResultsThe AUC and C-index showed that the systemic immune inflammation index (SII) and geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI) had higher prognostic values than other systemic nutritional and inflammatory indicators. Compared with patients in the low SII group, those in the high SII group had lower overall survival (HR, 4.42, 95% CI, 2.36–8.27, p = 0.000). Compared with patients in the high GNRI group, those in the low GNRI group had lower overall survival (HR, 0.33, 95% CI, 0.19–0.56, p = 0.000). SII was negatively associated with GNRI (R = −0.3, p

The water pollution problems caused by organic dyes, inorganic ions and other pollutants are becoming more and more serious, and the removal of pollutants from wastewater is still a challenge. A polyoxometalate-based metal organic framework [Pr4(bpdc)4(H2O)10]·SiMo12O40·3H2O (1) (H2bpdc = 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylic acid) was synthesized for multi-functional treatment of pollutants in water. Structural analysis revealed that Keggin-type polyanions are sandwiched between adjacent lanthanide-organic layers. Electrochemical and dye removal experiments showed that compound 1 can not only reduce NO2− and BrO3− pollutants in water by electrocatalytic oxidation, but also photocatalytically degrade and adsorb cationic organic dye pollutants in water, and even adsorb cationic organic dyes from mixed dyes solution. It has been proved that compound 1 is a multifunctional water treatment agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In structured light 3D measurement field，when the object is smooth surface，it can form a highlight area due to the specular reflection of the surface，and the distortion of the object will make a large measurement error. In order to solve this problem，a new algorithm is designed which is based on the theory of reflection component separation and pixel filling. Firstly，the specular pixels in the image are found by comparing the pixel parameters，Then the reflection component is separated and processed. Finally，in order to avoid some of the highlight are processed into black pixels the pixel filling method is adopted to deal with them. Experimental results show that when we deal with the image of 1920 * 1080 by using this algorithm，the number of specular pixels is reduced by 8 － 11 times. This method can effectively remove the specular pixels in the field of 3D measurement.

A multicolor electrochromic material based on polyoxometalate and a dye with pH and voltage dual-adjustment was studied. The material (PEI/[PEI/P2W18/PEI/AR]30/PEI (P2W18-AR) film) was prepared by a simple layer-by-layer method and tested in several solutions of different pH (pH 2.00, pH 4.00, and pH 6.00), referred to as F1, F2, and F3, respectively. By applying different voltages, the color of the film could change from yellow to blue-green (F1), pink-orange to blue-violet (F2), and dark pink to violet (F3), while maintaining good electrochromic performance and stability. Among them, F1 showed the best optical contrast up to 39.71%, and the optical contrast retention rate of F3 was 90.71% after 1000 cycles. Simultaneously, the fabricated electrochromic devices also showed color adjustments. This film was controlled by pH and voltage, providing a new method for the preparation of multicolor electrochromic composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) summarize an individual's germline genetic risk, but it is unclear whether PRS offer independent information for pancreatic cancer risk prediction beyond routine clinical data. Methods: We searched 8 databases from database inception to March 10, 2023 to identify studies evaluating the independent performance of pancreatic cancer-specific PRS for pancreatic cancer beyond clinical risk factors. Results: Twenty-one studies examined associations between a pancreatic cancer-specific PRS and pancreatic cancer. Seven studies evaluated risk factors beyond age and sex. Three studies evaluated the change in discrimination associated with the addition of PRS to routine risk factors and reported improvements (AUCs: 0.715 to 0.745; AUC 0.791 to 0.830; AUC from 0.694 to 0.711). Limitations to clinical applicability included using source populations younger/healthier than those at risk for pancreatic cancer (n = 10), exclusively of European ancestry (n = 13), or controls without relevant exposures (n = 1). Conclusions: While most studies of pancreatic cancer-specific PRS did not evaluate the independent discrimination of PRS for pancreatic cancer beyond routine risk factors, three that did showed improvements in discrimination. Impact: For pancreatic cancer PRS to be clinically useful, they must demonstrate substantial improvements in discrimination beyond established risk factors, apply to diverse ancestral populations representative of those at risk for pancreatic cancer, and use appropriate controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent data comparing germ-free to conventionally-raised mice demonstrated that energy homeostasis of colonocytes is dependent on gut microbiota through regulation of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) production and glucose utilization. We sought to evaluate 18F-FDG PET-CT as a novel technique for functional imaging of alterations in glucose metabolism as a result of the interaction between the gut microbiota and the human host. We conducted a prospective study in healthy humans that underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT and sampling of the gut microbiota before and after orally administered broad-spectrum antibiotics. The primary outcomes were total and regional physiologic colonic 18F-FDG uptake (measured as the mean and max standardized uptake values [SUVmean and SUVmax]). The study demonstrated significant increases in physiologic colonic 18F-FDG uptake in all study participants following antibiotic treatment and a 4-5log reduction of gut bacterial load. The mean increase in SUVmax was 0.63±0.37 SD (p = 0.004) and the median increase was 0.42 with an IQR of 0.40-0.81. The mean increase in SUVmean was 0.31±0.24 SD (p = 0.01) and the median increase was 0.41 with an IQR of 0.06-0.55. A likely explanation for this phenomenon is a shift in colonocyte metabolism to glycolysis due to a shortage of SCFA.

Background and study aims Biopsies of non-specific mucosal findings are often performed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). We sought to determine the prevalence and clinical utility of non-targeted biopsies of the stomach and esophagus. Patients and methods We conducted a retrospective review of 949 outpatient EGDs performed at a US tertiary referral center. Non-targeted biopsies of the stomach were defined as either “normal” or “mild” to “moderate” “erythema” or “inflammation” without other endoscopic features. Non-targeted biopsies of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) were defined as endoscopically “normal” mucosa. The primary outcome was the proportion of non-targeted biopsies resulting in “definite management change.” Secondary outcomes included histopathologic diagnoses of Helicobacter pylori, intestinal metaplasia and esophageal eosinophilia. Results Of 949 EGDs, 332 (35.0 %, 95 % CI 31.9 – 38.1 %) had a non-targeted biopsy taken at any site. Erythema in the gastric body and antrum was biopsied at a rate of 83 – 86 %, while biopsies of “normal”-appearing mucosa occurred at rates from 3 % (GEJ) to 15 % (body and antrum). The percentage of non-targeted biopsies that led to definite management change ranged from 5 % in the GEJ and esophagus to 9 % in the antrum, but did not significantly differ by mucosal appearance. Multivariable regression analyses suggested associations of language and age > 50 with management change from non-targeted gastric biopsy. Conclusions Non-targeted biopsies of the stomach and esophagus led to definite management change in a small proportion of patients. Further studies are needed to identify patient and/or endoscopic characteristics and techniques to improve the yield of this practice.