Association between weight loss and cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in Korea: A nationwide cohort study.

AIMS: While the benefit of weight loss in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is recognized, its association with CVD mortality remains controversial. This study investigates the association between weight loss and the incidence of CVD outcomes. METHODS: This was a 7.2-year retrospective cohort study of 1,020,533 adults aged 40-80 years who underwent at least two general health checkups within a 2-year interval in Korea. Weight was measured by trained examiners at certified hospitals. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association between weight loss and the incidence of CVD outcomes. RESULTS: Weight loss of more than 3 % was associated with an increased risk of combined CVD events (hazard ratio [HR] for moderate weight loss: 1.24, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-1.28; HR for severe weight loss: 1.45, 95 % CI: 1.33-1.57). Weight loss was significantly associated with an increased risk of both nonfatal CVD events and CVD mortality, but regular exercise mitigated the adverse effects on CVD mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss of more than 3% is associated with an increased risk of a combined CVD events, consistent across most risk factors. However, regular exercise may reduce the adverse effects on CVD mortality, suggesting a potential protective role of physical activity.

US Attenuation Imaging for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Fatty Liver Disease.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the attenuation coefficient (AC) from attenuation imaging (ATI) was correlated with visual US assessment in patients with hepatic steatosis. Moreover, it aimed to assess whether the patient's blood chemistry results and CT attenuation were correlated with AC. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent abdominal US with ATI between April 2018 and December 2018 were included in this study. Patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis were excluded. The correlation between AC and other parameters, such as visual US assessment, blood chemistry results, liver attenuation, and liver-to-spleen (L/S) ratio, were analyzed. AC values according to visual US assessment grades were compared using analysis of variance. Results: A total of 161 patients were included in this study. The correlation coefficient between US assessment and AC was 0.814 (p < 0.001). The mean AC values for the normal, mild, moderate, and severe grades were 0.56, 0.66, 0.74, and 0.85, respectively (p < 0.001). Alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly correlated with AC (r = 0.317, p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients between liver attenuation and AC and between L/S ratio and AC were -0.702 and -0.626, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Visual US assessment and AC showed a strong positive correlation with the discriminative value between the groups. Computed tomography attenuation and AC showed a strong negative correlation.

Complete genome sequence of Stellaria aquatica virus B, a novel polerovirus that infects Stellaria aquatica.

The complete genome sequence of Stellaria aquatica virus B (StAVB), a new member of the genus Polerovirus that infects Stellaria aquatica, was determined using high-throughput RNA sequencing with confirmation by Sanger sequencing. The complete StAVB genome (GenBank accession no. OP389993) is 5,900 nucleotide (nt) long with seven open reading frames (ORF0-5 and ORF3a) that encode putative proteins (P0-P5 and P3a) in a similar configuration to that of other typical poleroviruses. Pairwise sequence comparisons with other poleroviruses showed 38-50% nt sequence identity in the complete genome and 13-24%, 36-45%, 7-68%, and 6-50% amino acid sequence identity in (aa), for the P0, P1-2, P3, and P4 protein, respectively. These data, together with the results of phylogenetic analysis, indicate that StAVB should be classified as a new member of the genus Polerovirus, family Solemoviridae.

Identification and evaluation of beliefs about sport participation among South Korean university students.

Objective: To identify and evaluate salient beliefs about sport participation among South Korean university students. Participants: Total 234 undergraduate students were recruited in the main study from one university located in Seoul, South Korea. Methods: An elicitation study was conducted to identify salient beliefs about sport participation. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effects of the elicited salient beliefs on intention to participate in sports and sport participation behavior. Results: Four of ten salient beliefs identified from the elicitation study (i.e., "builds social relationship," "makes me tired," "takes too much time," and "friends") indirectly affected sport participation behavior through intention. Conclusion: The four salient beliefs may play a critical role in developing effective interventions or policies for promoting sport participation.

Reproducibility of MRI-derived liver surface nodularity score: analysis of patients with repeated MRI in various scanners.

PURPOSE: To assess trans-regional differences, reproducibility across different MRI scanners, and interobserver agreement of liver surface nodularity (LSN) score from routine liver MRI and to evaluate the correlation between LSN score and liver stiffness (LS) value on MR elastography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI twice using different MRI scanners within a year were evaluated. On axial hepatobiliary phase images, right anterior (LSNRT_ANT), right posterior (LSNRT_POST), and left anterior hepatic surface (LSNLT) were chosen for the quantification of LSN score. Repeated-measures ANOVA, paired t test, Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: LSN scores from high to low were LSNRT_POST, LSNRT_ANT, and LSNLT, representing trans-regional differences (p < 0.001). Reproducibility of LSN measurement across different MRI scanners was high to excellent (ICC = 0.838-0.921). The mean difference between first and second examinations in LSNRT_ANT, LSNRT_POST, and LSNLT were 0.032 (p = 0.013), 0.002 (p = 0.910), and 0.010 (p = 0.285) for reader 1 and 0.051 (p = 0.004), 0.061 (p = 0.002), and 0.023 (p = 0.005) for reader 2. The first and second examinations were highly correlated in all hepatic regions (r = 0.712-0.839, p < 0.001). There was a low to moderate correlation between LSN score and LS value (r = 0.364-0.592, p ≤ 0.001), which was higher in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group than in the non-CHB group in all hepatic regions. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, LSN measurement on liver MRI showed trans-regional differences and excellent reproducibility across different MRI scanners. To use LSN score more widely, standardization of quantification software and selected hepatic regions is needed.

Sexual and Reproductive Health in Adolescents and Young Adults With Psychotic Disorders: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people with psychosis has been largely overlooked. We hypothesised that there are key deficiencies in the existing literature on the SRH of adolescents and young adults with psychotic disorders. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic scoping review using Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. We included empirical studies and case reports focused on SRH issues in young people (aged 14-24 years) with psychotic disorders. A qualitative synthesis was completed. Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools were utilized to assess study quality. STUDY RESULTS: Seventeen empirical studies and 52 case reports met inclusion criteria. Most focused on sexual dysfunction which was identified as common among this cohort and associated with both psychotic disorders and antipsychotics. The study population was more likely to engage in sexual risk-taking behavior and was at higher risk of sexually transmissible infections than those without psychosis. SRH topics of clinical relevance in older patients with psychosis such as pregnancy, abortion, sexual violence, coercion, sexual identity, and gender were poorly addressed in this younger group. We found empirical studies generally lacked identification and controlling of confounders whilst case reports provided limited description of mental health and SRH outcomes following clinical intervention. CONCLUSION: Research and clinical practice addressing sexual and reproductive health is needed for young people living with psychosis. To address research gaps future studies should focus on women's health, sexual violence, gender, and sexuality in young people with psychosis.

Low Household Income Status and Death from Pneumonia in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Study

Background@#We explored the risk of death from pneumonia according to cumulative duration in low household income state (LHIS) among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). @*Methods@#Using Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2002 to 2018), the hazards of mortality from pneumonia were analyzed according to duration in LHIS (being registered to Medical Aid) during the 5 years before baseline (0, 1–4, and 5 years) among adults with T2DM who underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012 (n=2,503,581). Hazards of outcomes were also compared in six groups categorized by insulin use and duration in LHIS. @*Results@#During a median 7.18 years, 12,245 deaths from pneumonia occurred. Individuals who had been exposed to LHIS had higher hazards of death from pneumonia in a dose-response manner (hazard ratio [HR], 1.726; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.568 to 1.899 and HR, 4.686; 95% CI, 3.948 to 5.562 in those exposed for 1–4 and 5 years, respectively) compared to the non-exposed reference. Insulin users exposed for 5 years to LHIS exhibited the highest outcome hazard among six groups categorized by insulin use and duration in LHIS. @*Conclusion@#Among adults with T2DM, cumulative duration in LHIS may predict increased risks of mortality from pneumonia in a graded dose-response manner. Insulin users with the longest duration in LHIS might be the group most vulnerable to death from pneumonia among adults with T2DM.

Insulin Fact Sheet in Type 1 and 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Trends of Antidiabetic Medication Use in Insulin Users with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: 2002 to 2019

Background@#This study investigated the trends of insulin use among Korean patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Changes in prescription of antidiabetic medications in T2DM patients taking insulin therapy were evaluated. @*Methods@#We analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service database in Korea to evaluate the prevalence of insulin users and trends of insulin use in T1DM and T2DM patients from January 2002 to December 2019. We also investigated numbers and types of antidiabetic medications in insulin users with T2DM. @*Results@#The overall total number of insulin users increased from 2002 to 2019, reaching 348,254 for T2DM and 20,287 for T1DM in 2019 compared with 109,974 for T2DM and 34,972 for T1DM in 2002. The proportion of patients using basal analogs and short acting analogs have increased and those using human insulin, premixed insulin, or biphasic human insulin have decreased (rapid acting analogs: 71.85% and 24.12% in T1DM and T2DM, respectively, in 2019; basal analogs: 76.75% and 75.09% in T1DM and T2DM, respectively, in 2019). The use of other antidiabetic medication in addition to insulin increased for T2DM, especially in dual therapy, reaching up to 52.35% in 2019 compared with 16.72% in 2002. @*Conclusion@#The proportion of the patients using basal or rapid acting analogs increased among all insulin users in both T1DM and T2DM patients. Among patients with T2DM, the proportion of patients using antidiabetic medications in addition to insulin was significantly increased compared to those who used insulin alone.

The association between changes in hepatic steatosis and hepatic fibrosis with cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with New-Onset type 2 Diabetes: A nationwide cohort study.

AIM: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a synergistic effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the association of changes in hepatic steatosis and advanced hepatic fibrosis with risk of CVD and mortality in new-onset T2DM. METHODS: Using the Korean National Health Insurance dataset, we included 120,256 patients with new-onset T2DM. Hepatic steatosis and advanced hepatic fibrosis were determined using the fatty liver index (FLI) and BARD score. According to the changes of the two scores over two years, patients were divided into four groups and analyzed for development of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure (HF), and mortality. RESULTS: Incident hepatic steatosis was associated with increased development of stroke, HF, and mortality compared with non-NAFLD (all p < 0.05). Regression and persistent hepatic steatosis were associated with increased risk of MI, stroke, HF, and mortality compared with non-NAFLD (all p < 0.05). Persistent advanced hepatic fibrosis was associated with increased risk of stroke, HF, and mortality (all p < 0.05).) Compared with persistent hepatic fibrosis, regression of hepatic fibrosis was associated with decreased risk of stroke, HF, and mortality (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in FLI or BARD score were associated with CVD and mortality in new-onset T2DM.

Usefulness of 2D shear wave elastography for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis and treatment response in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE) in the assessment of liver stiffness (LS) and dispersion slope (DS) to evaluate hepatic fibrosis and the treatment response in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AIH who underwent 2D SWE between June 2014 and June 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients were classified into four groups according to the histologic stage of fibrosis (F1-F4). The baseline characteristics, laboratory test results, histologic results, and 2D SWE results were analyzed. The diagnostic performance of LS measurements in hepatic fibrosis staging was investigated, and variables were compared before and after steroid treatment for AIH. RESULTS: In total, 69 patients were analyzed. The LS values differed according to the stage of liver fibrosis (P<0.001). The area under the curve for LS was 0.903, 0.815, and 0.854 for ≥F2, ≥F3, and F4, respectively. The diagnostic performance of LS measurements was significantly greater than that of serum biomarkers, except for fibrosis index-4 for F4 (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed in follow-up examinations in both the LS value and DS in patients who received steroid therapy (P=0.012 and P=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, 2D SWE is a useful method for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with AIH. In follow-up examinations, LS and DS can be used as reliable parameters to evaluate the treatment response of AIH.

Regional Analysis of Liver Surface Nodularity in a Single Axial MR Image for Staging Liver Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of liver surface nodularity (LSN) for staging hepatic fibrosis is restricted in clinical practice because it requires customized software and time-consuming procedures. A simplified method to estimate LSN score may be useful in the clinic. PURPOSE: To evaluate the regional analysis of LSN and processing time in a single axial liver MR image for staging liver fibrosis. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: A total of 210 subjects, a multicenter study. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: A 3 T/noncontrast gradient echo T1WI. ASSESSMENT: Subjects were divided into five fibrosis groups (F0  = 29; F1  = 20; F2  = 32; F3  = 50; F4  = 79) based on the METAVIR fibrosis scoring system. The mean LSN (on three slices) and regional LSN (on one slice) measurements, and the processing times, are compared. The regional LSN scores in five regions-of-interests (ROI1-5 ) were analyzed in a single axial MRI at the level of the hilum by two independent observers. STATISTICAL TESTS: Regional variations in LSN scores were compared using ANOVA with Tukey test. Agreement between the mean and regional LSN measurements was evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and Bland-Altman plots. The diagnostic performance of mean and regional LSN scores according to fibrosis stage was evaluated with the AUROC. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Total processing time for a regional LSN measurement (3.6 min) was 75.5% less than that for mean LSN measurement (14.7 min). Mean LSN scores and all five regional LSN scores showed significant differences between fibrosis groups. Among regional LSN scores, ROI5 showed the highest AUROC (0.871 at cut-off 1.12) for discriminating F0-2 vs. F3-4 and the best correlation with mean LSN score (r = 0.800, -0.07 limit of agreement). CONCLUSION: Quantitative regional LSN measurement in a single axial MR image reduces processing time. Regional ROI5 LSN score might be useful for clinical decision-making and for distinguishing the difference between early fibrosis (F0-2 ) and advanced fibrosis (F3-4 ) in the liver. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Characterization of aquaporin-1ab (Aqp1ab) mRNA in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) exposed to heavy metal and immunostimulant stimuli.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are key proteins that regulate fluid homeostasis in cells via modulating osmotic water transport. In the present study, we identified three variants of Aqp1ab transcript (mmAQP1ab x1, mmAQP1ab x2, and mmAQP1ab x3) in mud loaches (Misgurnus mizolepis), and their expression patterns were examined in response to heavy metal and immunostimulant exposure. Mud loach Aqp1ab gene has a somewhat different organizational structure (i.e. five exons interrupted by four introns) compared to most other teleostean Aqp1ab orthologues, which have four exons. The 5'-flanking regulatory region of Aqp gene showed diverse transcription factor binding motifs, particularly those associated with stress/immune responses. Developmental expression patterns indicated that Aqp1ab mRNA was maternally inherited, presumably important for fine-tuning gene expression during embryonic and early larval developments. Expression of mud loach Aqp1ab mRNA was significantly and differentially modulated in several tissues (intestine, kidneys, spleen, and liver) in response to various heavy metal treatments. In addition, Aqp1ab gene expression was highly induced in response to immune challenge (LPS and polyI:C injections). Collectively, our results suggested that AQPs are multifunctional effectors playing diverse roles in cellular pathways relevant to immune and/or stress adaptation responses, in addition to their involvement in osmoregulation.

Development and validation of a management system and dataset quality assessment tool for the Radiology Common Data Model (R_CDM): A case study in liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM), a distributed research network, has low clinical data coverage. Radiological data are valuable, but imaging metadata are often incomplete, and a standardized recording format in the OMOP-CDM is lacking. We developed a web-based management system and data quality assessment (RQA) tool for a radiology_CDM (R_CDM) and evaluated the feasibility of clinically applying this dataset. METHODS: We designed an R_CDM with Radiology_Occurrence and Radiology_Image tables. This was seamlessly linked to the OMOP-CDM clinical data. We adopted the standardized terminology using the RadLex playbook and mapped 5,753 radiology protocol terms to the OMOP vocabulary. An extract, transform, and load (ETL) process was developed to extract detailed information that was difficult to extract from metadata and to compensate for missing values. Image-based quantification was performed to measure liver surface nodularity (LSN), using customized Wonkwang abdomen and liver total solution (WALTS) software. RESULTS: On a PACS, 368,333,676 DICOM files (1,001,797 cases) were converted to R_CDM chronic liver disease (CLD) data (316,596 MR images, 228 cases; 926,753 CT images, 782 cases) and uploaded to a web-based management system. Acquisition date and resolution were extracted accurately, but other information, such as "contrast administration status" and "photography direction", could not be extracted from the metadata. Using WALTS, 9,609 pre-contrast axial-plane abdominal MR images (197 CLD cases) were assigned LSN scores by METAVIR fibrosis grades, which differed significantly by ANOVA (p < 0.001). The mean RQA score (83.5) indicated good quality. CONCLUSION: This study developed a web-based system for management of the R_CDM dataset, RQA tool, and constructed a CLD R_CDM dataset, with good quality for clinical application. Our management system and R_CDM CLD dataset would be useful for multicentric and image-based quantification researches.

Intraindividual comparison of MRI-derived liver surface nodularity score at 1.5 T and 3 T.

PURPOSE: To compare the MRI-derived liver surface nodularity (LSN) scores acquired on both 1.5 T and 3 T. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty chronic liver disease patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI at both 1.5 and 3 T were included. Axial hepatobiliary phase images with the same voxel size were used to calculate the LSN score in both liver lobes with a quantitative software. Rank correlation, Wilcoxon test, and Bland-Altman limits of agreement were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was a weak correlation between the right and left liver lobe on 1.5 T (rs = 0.331, p = 0.037) and 3 T (rs = 0.381, p = 0.015). The correlation between 1.5 T and 3 T on both liver lobes showed a very strong correlation (right, rs = 0.927, p < 0.001; left, rs = 0.845, p < 0.001). LSN scores differed significantly between both lobes on 1.5 T (median, 1.201 vs. 0.674, right vs. left) and 3 T (1.076 vs. 0.592) (all p < 0.001). LSN scores differed significantly between 1.5 T and 3 T on both lobes (all p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plot comparing 1.5 T and 3 T on right and left liver lobes showed a systemic bias of 0.08 and 0.07, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LSN scores differed significantly on 1.5 T vs. 3 T and right vs. left liver lobe. Caution should be made when comparing LSN scores derived from different field strengths or the hepatic lobe. Interplatform, interlobar reproducibility should be resolved to use LSN scores, which is relatively easy to perform without additional hardware or images.

Aldosterone Immunoassay-Specific Cutoff Value for Seated Saline Suppression Test for Diagnosing Primary Aldosteronism

A seated saline loading test (SLT) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is one of the most accepted confirmatory tests of primary aldosteronism. However, LC-MS/MS is time-consuming and is not widely available in diagnostic laboratories compared to immunoassay. With immunoassay, it is unknown whether SLT in the seated position is more accurate than that of the supine position, and a cutoff value of post-seated SLT plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) must be established in the Korean population. Ninety-eight patients underwent SLT in both positions, and post-SLT PAC was measured by LC-MS/MS and radioimmunoassay. We confirmed primary aldosteronism if post-seated SLT PAC by LC-MS/MS exceeded 5.8 ng/dL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was greater for seated than supine SLT (0.928 vs. 0.834, P=0.003). The optimal cutoff value of post-seated SLT by radioimmunoassay was 6.6 ng/dL (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 92.2%).

Mobile computed tomography for the efficient allocation of medical resources in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report.

RATIONALE: The highly contagious Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection raise social and economic burden. Medical staff and resources are being diverted for the care of patients with COVID-19. There are problems for healthcare systems, including burnout syndrome for the medical staff and exhaustion of medical resources. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was a 65-year-old woman presenting with fever, cough, and dyspnea due to COVID-19 pneumonia. She received antiviral agents, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and conservative treatment. Although her clinical condition improved, there was no significant improvement in portable chest X-ray results. DIAGNOSES: Due to concerns over the propagation of infection when transferring to patients for scanning and the need for excessive medical personnel to move patients, we moved a mobile chest computed tomography (CT) machine to an isolation ward for CT scanning. INTERVENTIONS: We report our experience using mobile chest CT to effectively allocate medical resources and assess treatment response in patient with COVID-19 pneumonia. OUTCOMES: Follow-up mobile CT scans disclosed progressive resolution of the multifocal ground-glass opacities and mixed consolidations distributed peripheral to subpleural spaces. During the mobile chest CT scan, there were no adverse or unforeseen events. Three medical personnel were required to performed mobile chest CT, including a clinician, a nurse, and a radiologist. LESSONS: As a result of using mobile chest CT on COVID-19 patients, the number of medical personnel required for CT scanning decreased by about 83%, rapid, and safe compared with a patient who performed conventional CT.

Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Stage Using Integrative Analysis of Hepatic Heterogeneity and Nodularity in Routine MRI with FIB-4 Index as Reference Standard.

Image-based quantitative methods for liver heterogeneity (LHet) and nodularity (LNod) provide helpful information for evaluating liver fibrosis; however, their combinations are not fully understood in liver diseases. We developed an integrated software for assessing LHet and LNod and compared LHet and LNod according to fibrosis stages in chronic liver disease (CLD). Overall, 111 CLD patients and 16 subjects with suspected liver disease who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled. The procedures for quantifying LHet and LNod were bias correction, contour detection, liver segmentation, and LHet and LNod measurements. LHet and LNod scores among fibrosis stages (F0-F3) were compared using ANOVA with Tukey's test. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) curve. The mean LHet scores of F0, F1, F2, and F3 were 3.49 ± 0.34, 5.52 ± 0.88, 6.80 ± 0.97, and 7.56 ± 1.79, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean LNod scores of F0, F1, F2, and F3 were 0.84 ± 0.06, 0.91 ± 0.04, 1.09 ± 0.08, and 1.15 ± 0.14, respectively (p < 0.001). The combined LHet × LNod scores of F0, F1, F2, and F3 were 2.96 ± 0.46, 5.01 ± 0.91, 7.30 ± 0.89, and 8.48 ± 1.34, respectively (p < 0.001). The AUROCs of LHet, LNod, and LHet × LNod for differentiating F1 vs. F2 and F2 vs. F3 were 0.845, 0.958, and 0.954; and 0.619, 0.689, and 0.761, respectively. The combination of LHet and LNod scores derived from routine MR images allows better differential diagnosis of fibrosis subgroups in CLD.

Transcriptome expression profiles between diploid and triploid Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) juveniles in response to acute heat-stress and hypoxia treatments.

With an increasing interest for the use of triploids in abalone aquaculture, it is crucial to understand their physiological responses to environmental stress, particularly such as heat-stress and hypoxia, which are significant factors that cause adverse effects on the efficiency and capacity of farming practice in abalone production. However, nothing is known about gene expression of triploid abalone to modulate physiological responses under different environmental stresses. Transcriptomic response to the acute heat-stress and hypoxia were explored in hepatopancreas of diploid and triploid Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) juveniles. A total of 316 million clean reads were de novo assembled into 271,039 contigs, of which a transcriptome with 209,974 non-redundant transcripts was produced. Using generalized fold change (GFOLD) algorithm with a cut-off │GFOLD value│ > 4, we identified differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) from diploid and triploid abalone in responses to acute heat-stress and hypoxia treatments, respectively. Comparative analysis of the identified DETs revealed alteration of transcript expression profile, level, and process in triploid abalone compared to their diploid siblings. Thus, our study will provide not only comprehensive insight into understanding of the transcriptional regulation to environmental stresses in triploid abalone but a framework for efficient management of triploid abalone aquaculture.

Superoxide Dismutase Multigene Family from a Primitive Chondrostean Sturgeon, Acipenser baerii: Molecular Characterization, Evolution, and Antioxidant Defense during Development and Pathogen Infection.

Three distinct superoxide dismutases (SODs)-copper/zinc-SOD (SOD1), manganese-SOD (SOD2), and extracellular copper/zinc-SOD (SOD3)-were identified from a primitive chondrostean fish, Acipenser baerii, enabling the comparison of their transcriptional regulation patterns during development, prelarval ontogeny, and immune stimulation. Each A. baerii SOD isoform (AbSOD) shared conserved structural features with its vertebrate orthologs; however, phylogenetic analyses hypothesized a different evolutionary history for AbSOD3 relative to AbSOD1 and AbSOD2 in the vertebrate lineage. The AbSOD isoforms showed different tissue distribution patterns; AbSOD1 was predominantly expressed in most tissues. The expression of the AbSOD isoforms showed isoform-dependent dynamic modulation according to embryonic development and prelarval ontogenic behaviors. Prelarval microinjections revealed that lipopolysaccharide only induced AbSOD3 expression, while Aeromonas hydrophila induced the expression of AbSOD2 and AbSOD3. In fingerlings, the transcriptional response of each AbSOD isoform to bacterial infection was highly tissue-specific, and the three isoforms exhibited different response patterns within a given tissue type; AbSOD3 was induced the most sensitively, and its induction was the most pronounced in the kidneys and skin. Collectively, these findings suggest isoform-dependent roles for the multigene SOD family in antioxidant defenses against the oxidative stress associated with development and immune responses in these endangered sturgeon fish.

Reliability of Skeletal Muscle Area Measurement on CT with Different Parameters: A Phantom Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of CT measurements of muscle quantity and quality using variable CT parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A phantom, simulating the L2-4 vertebral levels, was used for this study. CT images were repeatedly acquired with modulation of tube voltage, tube current, slice thickness, and the image reconstruction algorithm. Reference standard muscle compartments were obtained from the reference maps of the phantom. Cross-sectional area based on the Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds of muscle and its components, and the mean density of the reference standard muscle compartment, were used to measure the muscle quantity and quality using different CT protocols. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were calculated in the images acquired with different settings. RESULTS: The skeletal muscle area (threshold, ?29 to 150 HU) was constant, regardless of the protocol, occupying at least 91.7% of the reference standard muscle compartment. Conversely, normal attenuation muscle area (30-150 HU) was not constant in the different protocols, varying between 59.7% and 81.7% of the reference standard muscle compartment. The mean density was lower than the target density stated by the manufacturer (45 HU) in all cases (range, 39.0-44.9 HU). The SNR decreased with low tube voltage, low tube current, and in sections with thin slices, whereas it increased when the iterative reconstruction algorithm was used. CONCLUSION: Measurement of muscle quantity using HU threshold was reliable, regardless of the CT protocol used. Conversely, the measurement of muscle quality using the mean density and narrow HU thresholds were inconsistent and inaccurate across different CT protocols. Therefore, further studies are warranted in future to determine the optimal CT protocols for reliable measurements of muscle quality.