Accurate diagnosis of early dental caries is essential for timely intervention, yet conventional imaging lacks sensitivity to initial enamel demineralization. Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) provides degree of polarization uniformity (DOPU) images sensitive to early microstructural changes, but automated analysis remains limited. This study proposes an automated DOPU-based workflow for caries detection and evaluation. Noise is reduced using intensity-guided Otsu thresholding, followed by background removal and morphological restoration. A 7 × 7 Gaussian kernel enhances contrast. Precision-guided localization with level set segmentation enables automated detection, boundary delineation, and quantification. Results demonstrate reliable detection and repeatable assessment, highlighting strong clinical potential.

INTRODUCTION:The simplified Edinburgh criteria utilize computed tomography (CT) to identify cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), showing good performance in the original autopsy cohort. However, diagnostic performance varies in external validation, particularly among survivors with smaller hematoma volumes. We hypothesized that applying a minimum volume threshold could improve diagnostic accuracy. METHODS:We externally validated the simplified Edinburgh criteria in a Chinese cohort. All patients underwent CT imaging as the index test. The reference standard was a diagnosis of probable CAA, with or without pathological confirmation, based on the Boston 2.0 criteria. Diagnostic indices, including the area under the curve (AUC), were assessed. Additionally, likelihood ratio differences were analyzed to explore a potential hematoma volume threshold associated with improved diagnostic performance. RESULTS:A total of 171 patients were included: 52 lobar ICH cases with histological confirmation and 119 with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Patients undergoing hematoma evacuation had larger ICH volumes and were younger than those assessed by MRI.Overall, the simplified Edinburgh criteria showed limited sensitivity and specificity for both rule-in criteria (65% and 54%) and rule-out criteria (56% and 58%). The pathology-confirmed subgroup showed higher rule-in specificity than the MRI-based subgroup (87% vs. 43%). In patients with hematoma volume >30 mL, rule-in specificity increased to 71.4% and rule-out sensitivity increased to 89.3%, although overall diagnostic performance remained moderate. CONCLUSION:The simplified Edinburgh CT criteria may yield more accurate diagnoses in patients with larger hematomas, and a 30 mL threshold may serve as a potential exploratory cutoff.

To further explore relative biological effectiveness (RBE) variability, the RBE of different intracerebral cells at various irradiation (IR) dosages and time were determined in this study. A total of 120 rabbits were randomly divided into proton groups (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 Gy, RBE) (n = 3) and photon groups (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 Gy) (n = 3). The rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after brain IR. Neuronal survival, identified via Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, and immunohistochemical detection of neurofilament (NF), Olig2, and CD68 in the hippocampus and thalamus, were analyzed. Dose- and time-dependent RBE curves were fitted using the LQ model. Proton IR showed higher neuronal survival at 4-, 6-, and 8-weeks post 10 Gy, 20 Gy, 30 Gy IR (p < 0.05) compared to photon IR. Oligodendrocyte populations in photon group at 4-, 6-, and 8-weeks post 10 Gy IR and 6-, 8-weeks post 20 Gy were consistently higher than proton subgroups (p < 0.05). While proton IR showed higher microglial activation which was observed only at 4-weeks post 30y IR. Proton RBE for neurons and oligodendrocytes remained below 1.1 but exceeded 1.1 for microglial activation. These findings demonstrate the dose- and time- dependent nature of proton RBE and suggest brain tissue tolerates higher proton IR doses compared to photon IR, which fully confirmed the biological advantages of proton IR. These will help clinicians more precisely set the organ limit at risk and tailor radiotherapy plans.

Background:Coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Kawasaki disease (KD) are thought to arise from aberrant immune activation and an amplified inflammatory cascade triggered by an unidentified etiologic factor. Interleukin-23 (IL-23)-a pivotal modulator of chronic inflammatory responses and immune-mediated vascular damage-has lately garnered interest regarding its putative role in cardiovascular pathological processes. Aim:To explore the correlation between circulating IL-23 concentrations and the occurrence of CALs in pediatric patients with KD. Methods:Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 103 pediatric patients with KD prior to administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), we quantified circulating cytokine levels in a total of 211 study participants, who were stratified into four distinct cohorts: 47 KD cases with coronary artery lesions, 56 cases without vascular involvement, 58 febrile controls, and 50 healthy controls. Results:Serum IL-23 concentrations were markedly elevated in children with KD [279.69 pg/mL (132.67-693.32)] compared with both febrile controls [161.02 pg/mL (81.50-338.60)] and healthy controls [132.41 pg/mL (61.74-274.28)] (P < 0.001), indicating a disease-specific elevation. Among KD patients, 47 (45.63%) developed CALs. The KD individuals presenting with CAL (KD-CALs) group exhibited markedly higher IL-23 levels [395.76 pg/mL (221.62-1,217.19)] compared with KD individuals without CAL (KD-NCALs) [222.81 pg/mL (100.18-388.58), P < 0.001], accompanied by higher Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and increased Interleukin-6 (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. IL-23 displayed significant positive associations with multiple inflammatory indices, including white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), MMP-1, and VEGF. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that IL-23 effectively discriminated KD from controls [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.71, cutoff = 202.3 pg/mL, sensitivity = 66.0%, specificity = 68.0%] and KD-CAL from KD-nCAL (AUC = 0.69, cutoff = 661.2 pg/mL, sensitivity = 42.6%, specificity = 87.5%). Conclusion:Elevated serum IL-23 is associated with heightened inflammatory activity and the presence of coronary artery lesions in KD, suggesting that IL-23 may contribute to CAL pathogenesis and represent a potential biomarker of vascular involvement.

Background: Current blood-based biomarkers for the neurodegeneration component of the AT(N) framework, such as neurofilament light chain (NfL), reflect general neuroaxonal injury but lack specificity for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated whether plasma neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPTXR), a synaptic protein involved in excitatory circuit maintenance, could serve as an AD-enriched blood biomarker to track downstream neurodegeneration, disease stage, and clinical prognosis. Methods: In this multicenter cohort study, we analyzed four prospective cohorts from China: a discovery cohort (CANDI; n=699), an independent blinded validation cohort (CLEAR-AD; n=401), and two disease-control cohorts enriched for vascular and non-AD neurodegeneration (cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]/cerebral small vessel disease [CSVD]; n=238, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS]; n=160). Participants included cognitively unimpaired individuals and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), AD dementia, non-AD dementia, CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage, CAA-related inflammation, CSVD-related intracerebral hemorrhage, and ALS. Amyloid status was defined by amyloid PET or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio. Plasma NPTXR was measured with an in-house Meso Scale Discovery immunoassay and benchmarked against plasma tTau and serum NfL. Primary outcomes were between-group differences in plasma NPTXR and its disease specificity relative to tTau and NfL. Secondary outcomes included its association with amyloid and tau pathology, structural MRI measures, cognitive performance, longitudinal cortical thinning, cognitive decline, and progression from MCI to dementia. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, and APOE ε4, with correction for multiple testing. Findings: Among 1498 participants (874 [57·2%] women; mean [SD] age, 64·2 [9·5] years), plasma NPTXR levels were lower in AD than in cognitively unimpaired controls in both CANDI (mean difference, −103·55 pg/mL; 95% CI, −147·03 to −60·07; p<0·001) and CLEAR-AD (mean difference, −250·45 pg/mL; 95% CI, −369·94 to −130·96; p<0·001). Plasma NPTXR was also reduced in amyloid-positive MCI and showed the greatest reduction in AD dementia. Plasma NPTXR did not differ from controls in CSVD or ALS but was lower in CAA; in contrast, serum NfL was increased in CSVD and ALS. Lower plasma NPTXR was associated with greater Aβ-PET burden, higher CSF pTau181, thinner cortex, and worse cognitive performance. Higher baseline plasma NPTXR was also associated with slower cortical thinning, slower cognitive decline, and lower risk of progression from MCI to dementia (hazard ratio 0·33, 95% CI 0·14–0·80; p=0·014). Interpretation: Plasma NPTXR was consistently reduced across the biologically defined AD continuum, closely tracked AD-related neurodegeneration, and provided robust prognostic information for clinical progression. The relative stability of plasma NPTXR in ALS and CSVD—contrasting sharply with the non-specific elevations of NfL—supports its role as an AD-enriched biomarker of downstream synaptic and neurodegenerative change. Plasma NPTXR could complement amyloid and tau biomarkers for assessing downstream neurodegeneration and improving disease staging, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring in AD.

Background:Pancreatic cancer is characterized by an insidious onset and rapid progression, and the accurate determination of the gross tumor volume (GTV) constitutes a critical prerequisite for ensuring the efficacy of radiotherapy. Multiphase contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) enables the dynamic visualization of tumor hemodynamic perfusion characteristics; however, the tissue discrimination capability varies substantially across different enhancement phases. To date, there is no universal consensus on the optimal imaging phase for GTV determination in pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the differences in imaging and GTV determination of pancreatic cancer using multiphase CE-MRI, thereby providing a basis for selecting the optimal phase for GTV determination. Methods:Thirty patients with advanced pancreatic cancer [American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage III-IV] who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) simulation were retrospectively enrolled in this study. MR T1-weighted images (T1WI) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI) were obtained at 15 s, 45 s, 75 s, 150 s, and >20 min after contrast injection. The GTV was determined from these different image sequences and named GTV-T1WI, GTV-15 s, GTV-45 s, GTV-75 s, GTV-150 s, and GTV-20 min. Differences in mean signal intensity (SI), SI contrast, volume, and shape among the different GTVs were compared. Normal pancreatic tissue was defined as a 1 cm3 region of interest of the parenchyma, strictly excluding blood vessels and pancreatic ducts. Results:The mean SI of the GTV was lower than that of the normal pancreatic tissue at each time phase (P<0.05), ranging from 9.93% to 45.01%. At CE-T1WI-15 s, the SI contrast between GTV and normal pancreatic tissue was the highest at 0.45±0.10, significantly superior to the T1WI (0.34±0.13, P<0.001). The GTV-15 s volume was 21.02±12.43 cm3. Compared with CE-T1WI-15 s, the SI contrast between the GTV and normal pancreatic tissue on T1WI and CE-T1WI-45 s to CE-T1WI-20 min decreased by 22.42-77.43% (P<0.05). Compared with GTV-15 s, the volume of GTV-T1WI and GTV-45 s-GTV-20 min decreased by -14.10-22.75%. Except for GTV-15 s and GTV-45 s, GTV-15 s and GTV-75 s, and GTV-45 s and GTV-75 s, the differences in GTV volumes in the other phases were statistically significant (P<0.05). The shape change trend of GTV at different phases was consistent with the volume compared with that of GTV-15 s. The Dice similarity coefficients (DSCs) of GTV-T1WI, GTV-45 s, GTV-75 s, GTV-150 s, and GTV-20 min were 0.74±0.10, 0.79±0.11, 0.76±0.13, 0.72±0.15, and 0.64±0.13, respectively. Conclusions:The CE-T1WI-15 s sequence demonstrated significant improvements in SI contrast and boundary definition. Consequently, it holds significant potential as an optimal sequence for GTV determination in pancreatic cancer radiotherapy, warranting further validation in larger cohorts.

Abstract Background and aims Whether hematoma location predicts long-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE) after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) in Asian populations remains debated. We described and compared the cumulative incidence of MACE between lobar and non-lobar sICH patients in a population-based health insurance database in China. Methods We identified patients with incident sICH that survived the first 30 days from the Shanghai medical insurance database (2020–2024). Patients were classified as lobar or non-lobar. Two-year cumulative incidence functions were estimated for MACE and its components (ischemic stroke, recurrent intracranial hemorrhage, myocardial infarction, vascular death), treating non-vascular death as a competing risk. A pre-specified descriptive subgroup analysis was performed among patients aged ≥75 years. Results Among 19,698 30-day survivors (median follow-up 2.00 years), 4,911 (24.93%) were lobar and 14,787 (75.07%) non-lobar. Compared with non-lobar survivors, lobar survivors were older (median 72 vs 66 years) and more often female (40.6% vs 29.4%). The overall 2-year cumulative MACE risk was 16.24% and was numerically similar between lobar and non-lobar survivors (15.13% vs 14.70%), with comparable risks for recurrent intracranial hemorrhage (10.40% vs 10.19%) and ischemic stroke (4.32% vs 4.45%). Among those aged≥75-years, although risks of ischemic stroke didn't differ by location (5.27% vs. 5.39%), lobar sICH had higher risks for MACE (18.37% vs 16.29%) and for recurrent intracranial hemorrhage (12.75% vs. 10.63%) compared with non-lobar sICH. Conclusions Lobar and non-lobar sICH survivors had similar long-term MACE risk overall. In older patients, lobar hemorrhage showed higher recurrent intracranial hemorrhage risk, potentially reflecting age-related small-vessel pathophysiology. Conflict of interest Jiahe Li, Ya Su, Linxin Li, Xin Cheng.nothing to disclose. Figure 1 - belongs to Results

Accurate classification of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of adult-type diffuse gliomas as defined by the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification. However, conventional histological and molecular diagnostics are time-consuming, labor-intensive, costly, and often limited in accessibility. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled automated and unbiased glioma classification directly from histopathological images, but challenges remain in capturing complex pathological and molecular features effectively. In this study, we propose FOCUS (Feature Optimization and Cascaded Unified Screening), an integrated framework for IDH mutation status classification in gliomas using glioma pathology slides. The histopathological images are divided into patches, from which a Vision Transformer (ViT) extracts interpretable features related to nuclear morphology and tumor progression–associated protein expression. A Patch-based Graph Convolutional Network (PatchGCN) further aggregates spatial context to capture both local morphology and global tumor heterogeneity. A cascaded feature selection strategy is employed to refine biomarker identification, followed by a machine learning classifier for final classification. Using the proposed framework, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) demonstrated promising performance on a dataset of 73 patients (accuracy = 0.902, AUC = 0.909). These results highlight the potential of the FOCUS framework as a robust and interpretable tool for IDH mutation status classification, providing a computational approach to distinguish IDH-mutant (astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma) from IDH-wildtype (glioblastoma) tumors.

Purpose: To compare the imaging manifestations of BM at 3-min and > 60-min delayed-enhanced MRI and explore their imaging characteristics and changing patterns in ultra-long delayed-enhanced MRI > 60 min. Methods: Twenty-six participants with BM were prospectively enrolled from May to October 2019. Contrast-enhanced (CE) T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) was performed for 3 min and > 60 min after contrast injection. BM were defined as regions of interest (ROI-3min and ROI-60min). The two ROIs were fused (ROI-total); the additional display area of the lesion at 3-min (ROI-A) and > 60-min (ROI-B) was determined. Signal intensity (SI), volume, and shape differences between ROIs and brain white matter were compared; the imaging characteristics of BM on ultra-long delayed-enhanced MRI were analyzed. Results: 12 males (age: 37–72 [median: 62] years) and 14 females (age: 41–79 [median: 61] years) were included. BM were divided into disappeared (n = 79, 38.0 %) and non-disappeared (n = 129, 62.0 %) groups. The average volume of the two groups at 3-min was 0.18 ± 0.25 and 3.53 ± 10.47 cm3 (p < .05). At > 60-min, BM in the non-disappeared group had four imaging manifestations: adduction (95.3 %), abduction (72.7 %), signal reversal (10.1 %), and filling (38 %) effects. In the non-disappeared group, ROI-3min, ROI-60min, ROI-total, ROI-A, and ROI-B volumes averaged 3.53 ± 10.47, 3.72 ± 11.51, 4.06 ± 11.76, 0.36 ± 0.54, and 0.54 ± 1.48 cm3 (p < .05). The DSC obtained from ROI-3min compared to ROI-60min was largest in the > 5 cm3 group. Conclusion: BM changed significantly in > 60-min delayed CE T1WI; no consistent regularity was observed.

INTRODUCTION:We systematically characterized plasma protein profiles in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) using proteomics and identified a hub protein panel for disease diagnosis and risk stratification. METHODS:A total of 146 patients with probable CAA and 128 community-dwelling controls were prospectively enrolled. Plasma samples underwent proteomic analysis, and the hub proteins were validated in two validation cohorts. Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct and validate the performance of the circulating panel. RESULTS:We identified 166 differentially expressed proteins in patients with CAA. Six hub proteins were selected to form the circulating panel, demonstrating excellent performance to distinguish patients from controls in all cohorts. Additionally, the risk stratification system derived from the hub protein panel accurately identified patients at high risk for new-onset lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. DISCUSSION:Our findings revealed distinctive circulating protein signatures in CAA and established a validated hub protein panel aiding in CAA screening and risk stratification. HIGHLIGHTS:We identified plasma protein signatures in CAA using proteomics. A circulating hub protein panel was developed and validated, demonstrating high accuracy for disease screening. The hub protein panel effectively stratified CAA patients according to risk of future intracerebral hemorrhage. The circulating panel offers potential for CAA screening and risk stratification.

Objective:Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance is associated with coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease (KD) and requires additional therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine independent risk factors for IVIG resistance, investigate the response to IVIG treatment at different time points and determine whether the time option of IVIG treatment altered IVIG resistance. Methods:The clinical data of 6264 KD patients in southwest China were analyzed retrospectively. According to the response to IVIG treatment, the patients were divided into IVIG response group and IVIG resistance group. Multiple logistic regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for IVIG resistance, and trend chi-square test was used to examine the effect of IVIG timing on IVIG resistance. Results:Multivariate analysis showed that IVIG time, WBC, PLT, HB, ALT and Na were independently associated with IVIG resistance, and IVIG time was a key variable for IVIG resistance. In addition, these data suggested that the rate of IVIG resistance was the lowest when treated with IVIG on the seventh and eighth day of initial fever. Conclusion:IVIG timing is a key factor in IVIG resistance. Our data suggest a lower resistance rate when IVIG is administered on the seventh and eighth day of initial fever. However, the clinical implications of delaying treatment are uncertain, and early IVIG administration remains essential to prevent cardiovascular complications. Further research is needed to validate these findings and to guide clinical practice.

Optical non-invasive glucose monitoring (NIGM) is attractive to diabetes patients and medical professionals due to its advantages of painlessness, real-time monitoring, less contamination, no risk of infections, and no need for consumables when compared to traditional invasive methods. Unfortunately, inaccuracy still remains as the major challenge preventing the optical NIGM methods to be accepted in the health care community. One of the highly promising technologies emerged in recent years for optical NIGM is that based on optical coherence tomography (OCT), which relies on the fact that the coefficient of optical scattering from the extracellular matrix (mainly collagen fibers) bathed in the dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) strongly correlates with blood glucose concentration (BGC). However, there exist many regions in dermis in which the scattering coefficients exhibit low or no correlations with the BGC variations, such as the blood and lymph vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles, arrector pili muscles, glands, and corpuscles. The scattering from these non- or low-correlating regions tends to contaminate the intended scattering data from the correlating regions and reduce the BGC detection sensitivity and accuracy. In this paper, we demonstrate and validate a three-dimensional (3D) correlation method, which fully utilizes the 3D imaging capability of the OCT system, to improve the BGC detection accuracy by identifying and excluding the scattering data from these non- or low-correlating regions in the data processing, achieving notably more accurate results than those obtained with the 1D correlation method originally implemented and the 2D correlation method we proposed and demonstrated previously. We have also developed a wristband-style optical probe that effectively eliminates motion artifacts caused by shaking and maintains a stable contact pressure between the probe and the skin. The results of 32 clinical experiments showed that the RMSE and MARD for these measurements are 1.0 mmol/L and 9.7 % respectively. Clark's Error Analysis Grid shows that 88.4 % of the points fall within Zone A, and 100 % of the points fall within Zones A + B. These results validate that the 3D correlation method is promising for enhancing the accuracy of NIGM using OCT.

Background: It is acknowledged that penumbra can exist beyond 24 hours after stroke onset. The aim of this study was to explore the association between penumbral persistence at 24-72 hours and clinical outcomes in patients who did not achieve major reperfusion. Methods: Eligible patients participating in the International Stroke Perfusion Imaging Registry with repeated 24-72 hours perfusion imaging were included in this study. Persistent penumbra was evaluated as the volume of hypoperfusion lesion on repeated perfusion imaging divided by infarct volume on the follow-up imaging at 24-72 hours post arrival. Short-term clinical outcomes were defined as neurological deterioration at 24-72 hours and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2 at discharge. Long-term outcome was defined as mRS 0-2 at 3 months. The association between persistent penumbra and clinical outcomes was explored using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Results: A total number of 203 patients were included in this study. Persistent penumbra was associated with decreased odds of neurological deterioration at 24-72 hours (multivariable-adjusted OR=0.3, P=0.01) and increased odds of mRS 0-2 at 3 months (multivariable-adjusted OR=2.7, P=0.03). Persistent penumbra was not associated with mRS 0-2 at discharge (multivariable-adjusted OR=2.5, P=0.30). Discussion: Persistent penumbra in acute stroke patients without major reperfusion was generally associated with a better clinical outcome. This evidence suggested that there were patients with persistent hemodynamic support, for whom major reperfusion might not be pivotal to achieve a good clinical outcome. How to identify these patients and what treatment strategy can be made to stabilize the hemodynamics need future investigation.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a common pediatric disease that readily affects the coronary arteries and can progress to form coronary artery aneurysms (CAA). This study aimed to explore the relationship between thromboelastography MA and CAA and to ascertain whether thromboelastography MA could act as a predictor of CAA in KD patients. A total of 243 consecutive KD patients from January 2020 to December 2022 were included in this study. Differences in baseline characteristics were compared through analysis, and subsequent multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for CAA in KD patients. Among the 243 KD patients, 107 were female and 136 were male, with a median age of 23 months. Differential analysis indicated that the R, K, α, gender, WBC, HB, PLT and NLR were not significantly different, but the MA, age, IVIG resistance, CRP and albumin were significantly different between the KD-CAA and the KD-NCAA groups. Subsequent multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age (Adjusted OR 0.988; 95

Background:Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis primarily affecting children and is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries. Recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the close correlations between inflammation and KD. Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) has been reported to play a role in cardiovascular protection and repair by modulating inflammation, angiogenesis, and endothelial function. However, its role in KD still remains poorly understood. This study aims to explore the potential involvement of Tβ4 in the pathogenesis of KD, with a particular focus on its relationship to inflammation and coronary artery lesions (CALs). Methods:Serum Tβ4 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in children with KD and age-matched healthy controls. The KD group was further categorized into patients with and without CALs. Correlation analyses were performed between Tβ4 levels and clinical or laboratory parameters. Results:Serum Tβ4 levels were significantly lower in patients with KD compared to healthy controls and were further reduced in patients with CALs. After intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, Tβ4 levels significantly increased. Tβ4 levels were negatively correlated with several pro-inflammatory (eg, TNF-α, IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (eg, IL-4, IL-10). Conclusion:Tβ4 levels were significantly lower in children with KD, particularly in those with CALs. These findings suggest that Tβ4 may be involved in the inflammatory pathogenesis of KD and the progression of CALs, thus could represent a potential target for future diagnostic or therapeutic interventions.

Lobar hemorrhage is an important subtype of cerebral hemorrhage,which is associated with cerebral amyloidosis angiopathy(CAA)and has a high incidence rate,recurrence rate and disability rate.It is of great significance to predict its clinical prognosis using plain CT.Previous studies have found that the volume and morphology(irregular morphology of edges,island sign,spot sign,finger-like projection)of cerebral hemorrhage on CT images,combined with subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH),CT cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)score,and CT radiomics,have certain predictive value for early hematoma expansion,neurological deterioration,and long-term poor functional prognosis,and recurrence in lobar hemorrhage.We review the predictive value of the above imaging features for the prognosis in lobar hemorrhage,providing a theoretical basis for precise prognostic stratification and individualized intervention.

Kawasaki disease is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the developed world, characterised by acute systemic vasculitis, with a complex aetiology that remains poorly understood. Recent studies have highlighted the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Interleukin-35 in various proinflammatory and cardiovascular conditions. However, the relationship between Interleukin-35 gene polymorphisms and Kawasaki disease susceptibility, particularly in Chinese children, has not been well-explored.In this study, we investigated the association between five Interleukin-35 single-nucleotide polymorphisms-rs2243115, rs2243123, rs583911, rs353698, and rs2302164-and Kawasaki disease in a cohort of Chinese children. A total of ninety-four Kawasaki disease patients and one hundred healthy controls were enrolled, with the Kawasaki disease patients further divided into subgroups based on the presence or absence of coronary artery lesions and incomplete or complete Kawasaki disease. Genotyping of Interleukin-35 polymorphisms was performed using the MassARRAY system.The results showed the GT + GG genotypes and G allele of rs2243115 (T > G) were significantly more prevalent in Kawasaki disease patients with coronary artery lesions than in those without coronary artery lesions, suggesting a possible association with the development of coronary artery lesions. Additionally, the G allele of rs353698 (A > G) was more frequently observed in the incomplete Kawasaki disease group compared to the complete Kawasaki disease group, suggesting a possible association with the risk of incomplete Kawasaki disease.

This study integrated data from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) to investigate the molecular pathways by which selected dietary nutrients modulate the adverse effects of indoor air pollutants on asthma pathogenesis. Our analysis of 1199 curated chemicals-genes-phenotypes-disease interaction modules (CTD Tetramers) revealed about 60 key genes and 236 phenotypes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, proliferation, and immune regulation. Nutrients including gamma-tocopherol, vitamin A, resveratrol, theophylline, and zinc were found to influence these molecular targets. Notably, resveratrol significantly altered the expression of 51 genes (including both up- and down-regulation) and modulated 187 phenotypes, suggesting a pivotal role in attenuating pro-inflammatory cytokine production and reducing oxidative damage. Further anatomical and systems-level analysis demonstrated that both pollutants and these nutritional factors affect critical components of the respiratory system, and the immune network. The modulation of key mediators such as IL6 and TNF supports the dual functions of these nutrients in managing acute inflammation and preventing chronic airway remodeling. Our findings provide molecular evidence that nutritional interventions hold promise as a complementary strategy for mitigating asthma induced by indoor air pollutants. Although our results support the protective effects of the examined nutrients, further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary to detail the contributions of other dietary components such as flavonoids, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Overall, this study establishes a framework that links environmental exposures with targeted nutritional approaches, and it paves the way for future clinical trials and nutraceutical therapies in respiratory health. These results underscore the potential of diet-based interventions as a tool in global respiratory health improvement.

Background:Malignant brain tumors emphasize the importance of O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, necessitating standardized quantitative features for reliable assessment. However, the calculation of these features is influenced by acquisition duration, as reducing acquisition time remains a key concern in clinical practice. Furthermore, reconstruction algorithms significantly affect imaging quality. This study aimed to clarify the impact of acquisition duration and reconstruction algorithms on the repeatability of 18F-FET PET quantitative features in brain tumors. Methods:A total of 62 patients performing brain 18F-FET PET/magnetic resonance (MR) examinations were retrospectively enrolled. The PET images were reconstructed using 24 designed schemes, comprising a combination of eight acquisition time windows (3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17, and 20 min) with three reconstruction algorithms [ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM), OSEM with time-of-flight (OWT), and HYPER iterative with time-of-flight (HIWT)]. Image quality was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. The repeatability of quantitative metabolic and radiomic features between the three algorithms was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), whereas temporal stability between 15, 17, and 20 minutes for each algorithm was validated using the Friedman test. Results:PET reconstruction images at 15, 17, and 20 minutes were considered to provide diagnostic value. The mean standardized uptake value (SUV) and tumor-to-brain ratio (TBR) showed minimal variation with acquisition duration for all three algorithms, with the relative percentage difference (RPD) <1.2% after 
15 minutes. The maximum SUV (SUVmax), maximum TBR (TBRmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion uptake (TLU) became usable when acquisition time exceeded 15 minutes, with an RPD of around 5% or less. There were 8 common metabolic features and 30 radiomics features which demonstrated excellent repeatability between the three algorithms at 15, 17, and 20 minutes. The HIWT algorithm identified 18 stable radiomics features, whereas the OWT identified 2, and the OSEM identified 3. Conclusions:This study offers a reference for clinically reducing the acquisition time of 18F-FET PET imaging in brain tumors. It compares the temporal stability of different reconstruction algorithms and identifies metabolic and radiomic features with high repeatability and stability for each. These findings help to optimize imaging protocols and improve the reproducibility of quantitative analysis in 18F-FET PET studies for brain tumors.