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Introduction: Medicinal plants are precious resources in Iran's broad landscape of natural resources, which can play an essential role in health, employment, and non-petroleum export if recognized, cultivated, developed, and exploited scientifically and correctly. Given the limitation of water resources in Iran, the agricultural sector's use of unconventional water resources has been proposed as a solution. One of these methods is to pass water through a magnetic field before irrigation to improve water productivity. The soil health management is crucial for ensuring ecological and agricultural productions and maintaining plant diversity. The negative impacts of chemical fertilizers forced the agrochemical companies to replace them with Nano-fertilizers in sustainable agricultural systems in order to achieve desirable crop productivity. Materials and methods: With the aim of investigating the effect of foliar application of different nano fertilizers on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of peppermint under different irrigation conditions, an experimental experiment was carried out in an agricultural field in Miandoab city in West Azarbaijan province. The experiment was in the form of split plots based on randomized complete block design in three replications. The main plot was assigned to the irrigation cycle (every 5, 7 and 10 days) and the secondary plot was assigned to foliar spraying treatments (control (no foliar spraying) nano NPK, nano Fe, nano Zn and nano Mn). chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid, plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf weight, fresh yield, dry yield, proline content, essential oil percentage and essential oil yield was measured. Results and discussion: Based on the results of data variance analysis, all investigated traits were affected by irrigation, foliar application and the interaction of two treatments at the 1% probability level. The interaction of year with foliar application on dry and wet yield of fodder was significant at the probability level of 1%. The triple interaction of year x irrigationx foliar application and was significant only on proline content at the 1% probability level. The results of the mean comparison of irrigation with foliar application interaction treatments showed the Foliar application of nano Fe under irrigation conditions once every 5 days had the highest content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids (respectively with an average of 13.43, 3.61 and 4.12 mg g fresh weight-1), plant height (33.92 cm), leaf fresh weight (6.71 g), aerial fresh yield (13121 kg ha-1), aerial dry yield (4600.1 kg ha-1) and the lowest proline content (6.32 mmol g weight-1). Also, the highest percentage of essential oil (0.67%) was attributed to nano Fe foliar spraying under irrigation conditions of 7 days once. In this study, although the highest essential oil yield (24.74 kg ha-1) was assigned to the application of nano Zn under the irrigation once every 5 days' condition but there was no significant difference between the mentioned treatment and Foliar application nano NPK and nano-Fe in the irrigation treatment of 7 days' treatments. Conclusion: It can be stated that the use of NPK and Fe in the form of nanoparticles under mild water stress conditions can improve the economic performance of the product and save water consumption. Also, foliar spraying of this fertilizer it was able to significantly increase the essential oil yield of in this plant under severe water stress conditions. Therefore, foliar spraying of nutritional elements in nano form can be a solution to improve the essential oil yield in peppermint plants under water stress conditions with different intensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition that has no definitive treatment, and its early diagnosis can help to prevent or slow down its progress. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) have significant attention in AD detection. This study aims to differentiate AD from NC and distinguish between LMCI and EMCI from the other two classes. Another goal is the diagnostic performance (accuracy and AUC) of sMRI for predicting AD in its early stages. Methods: In this study, 398 participants were used from the ADNI and OASIS global database of sMRI including 98 individuals with AD, 102 with early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI), 98 with late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI), and 100 normal controls (NC). Results : The proposed model achieved high area under the curve (AUC) values and an accuracy of 99.7%, which is very remarkable for all four classes: NC vs. AD: AUC = [0.985], EMCI vs. NC: AUC = [0.961], LMCI vs. NC: AUC = [0.951], LMCI vs. AD: AUC = [0.989], and EMCI vs. LMCI: AUC = [1.000]. Conclusions: The results reveal that this model incorporates DenseNet169, transfer learning, and class decomposition to classify AD stages, particularly in differentiating EMCI from LMCI. The proposed model performs well with high accuracy and area under the curve for AD diagnostics at early stages. In addition, the accurate diagnosis of EMCI and LMCI can lead to early prediction of AD or prevention and slowing down of AD before its progress.

Organoids as self-organized structure derived from stem cells can recapitulate the function of an organ in miniature form which have developed great potential for clinical translation, drug screening and personalized medicine. Nevertheless, the majority of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are currently being cultured in the basement membrane matrices (BMMs), which are constrained by xenogeneic origin, batch-to-batch variability, cost, and complexity. Besides, organoid culture relies on biochemical signals provided by various growth factors in the composition of medium. We propose sodium alginate hydrogel scaffold in addition to the fibroblast conditioned medium (FCM)-enriched culture medium that is inexpensive and easily amenable to clinical applications for the culture of bladder cancer PDOs. PDOs grown in sodium alginate and FCM based medium have proliferation potential, growth rate, and gene expression that are similar to PDOs cultured in BME. According to the results, sodium alginate has substantial mechanical properties and reduces variance in early passage bladder tumor organoid cultures collected from patients. Furthermore, using FCM based medium as an alternative solution to eliminate some essential growth factors can be considered, especially for low-resource situation and develop cost effective tumor organoids., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

The global incidence of bladder cancer is more than half a million diagnoses each year. Bladder cancer can be categorized into non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which accounts for ~75% of diagnoses, and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Up to 45% of patients with NMIBC develop disease progression to MIBC, which is associated with a poor outcome, highlighting a clinical need to identify these patients. Current risk stratification has a prognostic value, but relies solely on clinicopathological parameters that might not fully capture the complexity of disease progression. Molecular research has led to identification of multiple crucial players involved in NMIBC progression. Identified biomarkers of progression are related to cell cycle, MAPK pathways, apoptosis, tumour microenvironment, chromatin stability and DNA-damage response. However, none of these biomarkers has been prospectively validated. Reported gene signatures of progression do not improve NMIBC risk stratification. Molecular subtypes of NMIBC have improved our understanding of NMIBC progression, but these subtypes are currently unsuitable for clinical implementation owing to a lack of prospective validation, limited predictive value as a result of intratumour subtype heterogeneity, technical challenges, costs and turnaround time. Future steps include the development of consensus molecular NMIBC subtypes that might improve conventional clinicopathological risk stratification. Prospective implementation studies of biomarkers and the design of biomarker-guided clinical trials are required for the integration of molecular biomarkers into clinical practice., Competing Interests: Competing interests: T.M. has a research collaboration with HUB Organoids, Gilead and Viiv. J.L.B. receives consultancy fees (all paid to Erasmus MC) from Janssen, BMS, AstraZeneca, Merck AG/Pfizer, MSD and Bayer. He also has research collaborations with Merck AG/Pfizer, MSD, Janssen, and VitroScan and has done book writing for Astellas. T.C.M.Z. has research collaborations with Vitroscan, HUB Organoids and Valar Labs. The other authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.)

Somatic mutations in ARID1A (AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A) are present in approximately 25 % of bladder cancers (BC) and are associated with poor prognosis. With a view to discover effective treatment options for ARID1A-deficient BC patients, we set out to identify targetable effectors dysregulated consequent to ARID1A deficiency. Integrative analyses of ARID1A depletion in normal organoids and data mining in publicly available datasets revealed upregulation of DNA repair and cell cycle-associated genes consequent to loss of ARID1A and identified CHEK1 (Checkpoint kinase 1) and chromosomal passenger complex member BIRC5 (Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 5) as therapeutically drug-able candidate molecular effectors. Ex vivo treatment of patient-derived BC tumoroids with clinically advanced small molecule inhibitors targeting CHEK1 or BIRC5 was associated with increased DNA damage signalling and apoptosis, and selectively induced cell death in tumoroids lacking ARID1A protein expression. Thus, integrating public datasets with patient-derived organoid modelling and ex-vivo drug testing can uncover key molecular effectors and mechanisms of oncogenic transformation, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies. Our data point to ARID1A protein expression as a suitable candidate biomarker for the selection of BC patients responsive to therapies targeting BIRC5 and CHEK1., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for almost 70 % of people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide, with the greatest numbers centred in South Africa where 98 % of infections are caused by subtype C (HIV-1C). However, HIV-1 subtype B (HIV-1B), prevalent in Europe and North America, has been the focus of most cure research and testing despite making up only 12 % of HIV-1 infections globally. Development of latency models for non-subtype B viruses is a necessary step to address this disproportionate focus. Furthermore, the impact of genetic variation between viral subtypes, specifically within the long terminal repeat (LTR) element of the viral transcriptional promoter on latency reversal, remains unclear. To address this scientific gap, we constructed a minimal genome retroviral vector expressing HIV-1C consensus transactivator of transcription protein (Tat) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of either HIV-1C consensus LTR (C731CC) or the transmitted/founder (T/F) LTRs derived from PLWH (C T/F 731CC), produced corresponding LTR pseudotyped viruses using a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) pseudotyped Envelope vector and the pCMVΔR8.91 packaging vector containing HIV-1 accessory and rev genes. Viruses produced in this way were used to infect Jurkat E6 and primary CD4 + T cells in vitro . By enriching for latently infected cells, and treating them with different latency reversing agents, we developed an HIV-1C latency model that demonstrated that the HIV-1C consensus LTR has lower reactivation potential compared to its HIV-1B counterpart. Furthermore, HIV-1C T/F LTR pseudotyped proviral genetic variants exhibited a heterogenous reactivation response which was modulated by host cell (genetic) variation. Our data suggests that genetic variation both within and between HIV-1 subtypes influences latency reversal. Future studies should investigate the specific role of variation in host cellular environment on reactivation differences., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is used across many common tumor types, but resistance reduces the likelihood of long-term survival. We previously found the puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase, NPEPPS, as a druggable driver of cisplatin resistance in vitro and in vivo and in patient-derived organoids. Here, we present a general mechanism where NPEPPS interacts with the volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) to control cisplatin import into cells and thus regulate cisplatin response across a range of cancer types. We also find the NPEPPS/VRAC gene expression ratio is a predictive measure of cisplatin response in multiple cancer cohorts, showing the broad applicability of this mechanism. Our work describes a specific mechanism of cisplatin resistance, which, given the characteristics of NPEPPS as a drug target, has the potential to improve cancer patient outcomes. In addition, we describe an intracellular mechanism regulating VRAC activity, which is critical for volume regulation in normal cells - a finding with functional implications beyond cancer.

Background: Coronary heart disease the most prevalent form of cardiovascular disease, results from the blockage of blood flow through arteries. The Myocardial Perfusion Scan (MPS) is considered a non-invasive method to assess the heart condition and provides valuable information, such as End Diastolic Volume (EDV), End Systolic Volume (ESV), Ejection Fraction (EF), Lung to Heart Ratio (LHR), and Transient Ischemic Dilatation (TID)., Objective: This study aimed to investigate changes in gated heart scan parameters to diagnose patients, who are candidates for heart surgery., Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 40 patients who are candidates for heart surgery were enrolled to evaluate the relation between the parameters of the gated heart scan and the amount of ischemic area of the heart. After scanning the patients, TID, ESV, LHR, and EF and also the movements of the heart walls are examined and analyzed in these patients., Results: According to the results of the one-sample t-test showing a significant difference between the parameters, the results were within the normal range ( P -value<0.0001). Additionally, all patients showed changes in cardiac output and wall movement issues., Conclusion: The evaluation of Myocardial Perfusion Scan (MPS) and gated heart scan parameters can provide an effective method for diagnosing patients who may require heart surgery., Competing Interests: None, (Copyright: © Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering.)

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between choroidal biomarkers using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) scoring for monitoring the activity of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)., Methods: Patients who were not in the acute phase of VKH were recruited. Simultaneous EDI-OCT and ICGA were captured in seven patients only at baseline, in six patients at the 3-month follow-up, and in two patients at both the 6- and 9-month follow-ups. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), subfoveal choroidal area (SFCA), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) were measured on EDI-OCT using FIJI software and a denoising system. ICGA scoring was performed., Results: Fifteen subjects with the median of 4-month follow-up were recruited. Forty-eight pairs of EDI-OCT and ICGA were investigated. In univariate analysis, ICGA scores were positively associated with SFCT, and SFCA, but negatively with CVI. The strength of correlation between ICGA scores and SFCT was strong (correlation coefficient: 0.91). In multivariate analysis, only SFCT remained significant (B: 2.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.9-3.0; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: SFCT can be an acceptable representative of the subclinical inflammatory activity of VKH. As an alternative to ICGA, SFCT functions better than SFCA and CVI., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Current Ophthalmology.)

Background: Given that obesity and insulin resistance play key roles in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the connection between leptin and these metabolic diseases, the association between NAFLD and a leptin receptor gene (LEPR) polymorphism was examined., Methods: In this genetic case-control association study, 144 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients and 144 controls were genotyped for the LEPR gene Gln223Arg (rs1137101) polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method., Results: The distributions of genotypes and alleles of Gln223Arg variant were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the study groups (P > .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the LEPR Gln223Arg Arg/Arg genotype was an independent risk factor for NAFLD; the Arg/Arg genotype, compared with the Gln/Gln genotype, was associated with a 2.09-fold increased risk for NAFLD (P = .036, odds ratio = 2.09 [95% CI = 1.31-5.95])., Conclusions: We found that the LEPR Gln223Arg Arg/Arg genotype was independently associated with a more than 2-fold rise in biopsy-proven NAFLD risk. Our findings, however, need to be corroborated by further studies., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene rs1801276 polymorphism on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)., Subjects and Methods: The rs1801276 polymorphism was investigated in 127 controls and 123 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients using PCR-RFLP., Results: No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was discovered for the rs1801276 variant of IRS1 in either NAFLD patients or controls ( P >0.05). The distribution of different rs1801276 genotypes and alleles showed significant variations between controls and NAFLD patients. In comparison to rs1801276 'CC' genotype, the "GG+GC" genotype occurred less frequently in NAFLD patients than in controls, which also persisted after adjustment for confounding factors ( P = 0.041, OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45-0.93). In comparison with the IRS1 rs1801276 "C" allele, the "G" allele was significantly less prevalent in NAFLD patients than in controls ( P = 0.045, OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.58-0.91)., Conclusions: For the first time, we reported a significant association between the IRS1 rs1801276 polymorphism and biopsy-proven NAFLD. More studies are required to further elucidate the contribution of the IRS1 gene to NAFLD susceptibility., Competing Interests: Disclosure: no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a chronic liver disease and a growing global epidemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between a visfatin gene (NAMPT) variant and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, owing to the connection between this disease and insulin resistance, obesity, inflammation, and oxidative stress, and the role of visfatin in these metabolic disorders., Methods: In the present case-control study, we enrolled 312 genetically unrelated individuals, including 154 patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and 158 controls. The rs2058539 polymorphism of NAMPT gene was genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method., Results: Genotype and allele distributions of NAMPT gene rs2058539 polymorphism conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium both in the case and control groups (p>0.05). The distribution of NAMPT rs2058539 genotypes and alleles differed significantly between the cases with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and controls. The "CC" genotype of the NAMPT rs2058539 compared with "AA" genotype was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease after adjustment for confounding factors [p=0.034; odds ratio (OR)=2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.36-4.37]. Moreover, the NAMPT rs2058539 "C" allele was significantly overrepresented in the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients than controls (p=0.022; OR=1.77, 95%CI=1.14-2.31)., Conclusion: Our findings indicated for the first time that the NAMPT rs2058539 "CC" genotype is a marker of increased nonalcoholic fatty liver disease susceptibility; however, it needs to be supported by further investigations in other populations.

Objectives: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the term used for a range of conditions in which fat builds up in the liver and exceeds 5% of hepatocytes without inordinate alcohol intake or other causes of lipid accumulation. Regarding the fact that insulin resistance and obesity play key roles in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as the connection between resistin and these metabolic diseases, the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and a resistin gene (RETN) polymorphism was examined., Methods: In this genetic case-control association study, 150 biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients and 154 controls were enrolled and genotyped for the RETN rs1862513 (-420C>G) gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP method., Results: The -420C>G genotype frequency distributions in both groups were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE; p>0.05). The carriers of the RETN -420C>G "CC" genotype compared with the "GG" genotype occurred less frequently in the cases with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease than in the controls, and the difference remained significant even after adjustment for confounding factors (p=0.030; OR=0.47, 95%CI=0.36-0.93). Interestingly, the RETN -420C>G "C" allele was also associated with a decreased risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease too (p=0.042; OR=0.72, 95%CI=0.53-0.95)., Conclusion: We found for the first time an association between biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and RETN -420C>G promoter polymorphism. The carriers of the RETN -420C>G "CC" genotype had a 53% decreased risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Our findings, however, need to be corroborated by further studies.

Background: Strategies toward HIV-1 cure aim to clear, inactivate, reduce, or immunologically control the virus from a pool of latently infected cells such that combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can be safely interrupted. In order to assess the impact of any putative curative interventions on the size and inducibility of the latent HIV-1 reservoir, robust and scalable assays are needed to precisely quantify the frequency of infected cells containing inducible HIV-1., Methods: We developed Specific Quantification of Inducible HIV-1 by RT-LAMP (SQuHIVLa), leveraging the high sensitivity and specificity of RT-LAMP, performed in a single reaction, to detect and quantify cells expressing tat/rev HIV-1 multiply spliced RNA (msRNA) upon activation. The LAMP primer/probe used in SQuHIVLa was designed to exclusively detect HIV-1 tat/rev msRNA and adapted for different HIV-1 subtypes., Results: Using SQuHIVLa, we successfully quantify the inducible viral reservoir in CD4+ T cells from people living with HIV-1 subtypes B and C on cART. The assay demonstrates high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility., Conclusions: SQuHIVLa offers a high throughput, scalable, and specific HIV-1 reservoir quantification tool that is amenable to resource-limited settings. This assay poses remarkable potential in facilitating the evaluation of potential interventional strategies toward achieving HIV-1 cure., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

There is an unmet need to improve the efficacy of platinum-based cancer chemotherapy, which is used in primary and metastatic settings in many cancer types. In bladder cancer, platinum-based chemotherapy leads to better outcomes in a subset of patients when used in the neoadjuvant setting or in combination with immunotherapy for advanced disease. Despite such promising results, extending the benefits of platinum drugs to a greater number of patients is highly desirable. Using the multiomic assessment of cisplatin-responsive and -resistant human bladder cancer cell lines and whole-genome CRISPR screens, we identified puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (NPEPPS) as a driver of cisplatin resistance. NPEPPS depletion sensitized resistant bladder cancer cells to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, overexpression of NPEPPS in sensitive cells increased cisplatin resistance. NPEPPS affected treatment response by regulating intracellular cisplatin concentrations. Patient-derived organoids (PDO) generated from bladder cancer samples before and after cisplatin-based treatment, and from patients who did not receive cisplatin, were evaluated for sensitivity to cisplatin, which was concordant with clinical response. In the PDOs, depletion or pharmacologic inhibition of NPEPPS increased cisplatin sensitivity, while NPEPPS overexpression conferred resistance. Our data present NPEPPS as a druggable driver of cisplatin resistance by regulating intracellular cisplatin concentrations., Significance: Targeting NPEPPS, which induces cisplatin resistance by controlling intracellular drug concentrations, is a potential strategy to improve patient responses to platinum-based therapies and lower treatment-associated toxicities., (©2024 The Authors; Published by the American Association for Cancer Research.)

Malaria, a major public health burden, is caused by Plasmodium spp parasites that first replicate in the human liver to establish infection before spreading to erythrocytes. Liver-stage malaria research has remained challenging due to the lack of a clinically relevant and scalable in vitro model of the human liver. Here, we demonstrate that organoids derived from intrahepatic ductal cells differentiated into a hepatocyte-like fate can support the infection and intrahepatic maturation of Plasmodium falciparum . The P.falciparum exoerythrocytic forms observed expressed both early and late-stage parasitic proteins and decreased in frequency in response to treatment with both known and putative antimalarial drugs that target intrahepatic P.falciparum . The P.falciparum -infected human liver organoids thus provide a platform not only for fundamental studies that characterise intrahepatic parasite-host interaction but can also serve as a powerful translational tool in pre-erythrocytic vaccine development and to identify new antimalarial drugs that target the liver stage infection., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of two novel eyelid curvature measurements to distinguish between normal eyes and different severities of blepharoptosis., Methods: A comparative cross-sectional analysis of upper eyelid curvature was performed for different severities of patients with unilateral blepharoptosis (congenital and aponeurotic) and normal controls. Mean upper lid contour index (ULCI) and area circularity index (ACI) were calculated for each group by dividing the intercanthal distance by upper eyelid margin length (ULCI) and dividing the interpalpebral area by the area of a circle enclosing the eye (ACI). The ratio of each index for the study and fellow normal eye of each patient was also calculated and compared between groups., Results: A total of 106 eyes including 30 eyes in the control group and 25, 27, and 24 eyes in the mild, moderate, and severe ptosis groups were enrolled in the study. ULCI and ACI showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). The inter-eye ratio (ULCI-ratio and ACI-ratio) of indices was also significantly different between groups (p = 0.002, p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed that ACI and ACI-ratio were significantly different between all pairs of study groups., Conclusion: The results of our study showed that ACI based on area measurements may distinguish blepharoptosis patients from normal controls and from each other. Including the data from the fellow normal eyes in the form of ratio indices may improve the differentiating power. These results can be useful in designing the optimal eyelid curvature measurements., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is an emerging global chronic liver disease, has a close association with insulin resistance. We aimed to determine whether the Gly1057Asp (rs1805097) polymorphism of the insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) gene is associated with NAFLD., Methods: Using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, 135 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 135 controls underwent IRS2 genotype analysis., Results: Genotype and allele distributions of the IRS2 gene Gly1057Asp variant conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the case and control groups (P > .05). The Asp/Asp genotype of IRS2 gene Gly1057Asp polymorphism compared with Gly/Gly genotype was associated with a 2.1-fold increased risk for NAFLD after adjustment for confounding factors (P = .029; odds ratio = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.23-3.97)., Conclusion: Our findings revealed for the first time that the Gly1057Asp Asp/Asp genotype of the IRS2 gene is a marker of increased NAFLD susceptibility; however, studies in other populations are required to confirm the results., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

HIV-1 latency results from tightly regulated molecular processes that act at distinct steps of HIV-1 gene expression. Here, we characterize PCI domain-containing 2 (PCID2) protein, a subunit of the transcription and export complex 2 (TREX2) complex, to enforce transcriptional repression and post-transcriptional blocks to HIV-1 gene expression during latency. PCID2 bound the latent HIV-1 LTR (long terminal repeat) and repressed transcription initiation during latency. Depletion of PCID2 remodeled the chromatin landscape at the HIV-1 promoter and resulted in transcriptional activation and latency reversal. Immunoprecipitation coupled to mass spectrometry identified PCID2-interacting proteins to include negative viral RNA (vRNA) splicing regulators, and PCID2 depletion resulted in over-splicing of intron-containing vRNA in cell lines and primary cells obtained from PWH. MCM3AP and DSS1, two other RNA-binding TREX2 complex subunits, also inhibit transcription initiation and vRNA alternative splicing during latency. Thus, PCID2 is a novel HIV-1 latency-promoting factor, which in context of the TREX2 sub-complex PCID2-DSS1-MCM3AP blocks transcription and dysregulates vRNA processing., Competing Interests: T.M. is an inventor on US patent application serial no. 17/259,107. International application no. PCT/US2019/041466. Entitled: Methods for reversing HIV latency using BAF complex modulating compounds. Inventors: Emily Dykhuizen (University of Purdue), Tokameh Mahmoudi (Erasmus MC), Gerald Crabtree (Stanford University)., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant health issue worldwide. This study investigated the effect of the adiponectin receptor 1 gene ( ADIPOR1 ) polymorphism on susceptibility to NAFLD. Methods: Data from 330 participants, including 165 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients and 165 healthy controls, were collected. The PCR-RFLP method was used to detect the genotypes of ADIPOR1 rs2275738 or T-106C variant. Results: The "CC" genotype of the ADIPOR1 rs2275738 polymorphism, compared with the "TT" genotype and the "C" allele, compared with the "T" allele, are markers of increased NAFLD susceptibility ( p  = 0.018; OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.43-2.01 and p  = 0.041; OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.24-2.35, respectively). Conclusion: This research suggests, for the first time, that the ADIPOR1 rs2275738 "CC" genotype is associated with a 107% increased risk for biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Importance: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes liver disease, affecting millions. Even though we have effective antivirals that cure HCV, they cannot stop terminal liver disease. We used an adult stem cell-derived liver organoid system to understand how HCV infection leads to the progression of terminal liver disease. Here, we show that HCV maintains low-grade infections in liver organoids for the first time. HCV infection in liver organoids leads to transcriptional reprogramming causing cancer cell development and altered immune response. Our finding shows how HCV infection in liver organoids mimics HCV infection and patient pathogenesis. These results reveal that HCV infection in liver organoids contributes to liver disease progression., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Purpose: To introduce a new supporting marker for discriminating different grades of ptosis called Sector Area Index (SAI) and a semi-automated technique to calculate it., Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative case series, a circle enclosing the intercanthal distance was automatically drawn after choosing two points as the medial and lateral canthus and manually selecting the palpebral fissure region. Finally, 15-degree apart sectors are applied to the enclosed circle. SAI was measured automatically by dividing the area of each 15-degree sector marked with the upper eyelid contour by the total area of the sector marked with the edge of the surrounding circle. SAI values and inter-eye SAI differences were compared between patients with different grades of ptosis as well as normal patients., Results: In the current study, 106 eyes were recruited (30, 25, 27, and 24 in the control, mild, moderate, and severe ptosis groups, respectively). Mean values of SAI in all sectors showed a decreasing trend from normal individuals toward patients with severe ptosis. The mean difference values of SAI between study eyes and fellow eyes in all four groups of patients showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In a pairwise comparison between groups, mean values of SAI in all nasal sectors from 15° to 60° showed a statistically significant difference between all groups (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The mean difference of SAI between study eyes and fellow eyes, including eyelid curvature, especially in 15°-60° and 120°-165° sectors, can demonstrate differentiating performance for detecting and discriminating varying grades of ptosis., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: This study aimed to review the literature on the application of ImageJ in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) images., Methods: A general search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. The authors evaluated each of the selected articles in order to assess the implementation of ImageJ in OCT-A images., Results: ImageJ can aid in reducing artifacts, enhancing image quality to increase the accuracy of the process and analysis, processing and analyzing images, generating comparable parameters such as the parameters that assess perfusion of the layers (vessel density (VD), skeletonized density (SD), and vessel length density (VLD)) and the parameters that evaluate the structure of the layers (fractal dimension (FD), vessel density index (VDI), and lacunarity (LAC)), and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) that are used widely in the retinal and choroidal studies), and establishing diagnostic criteria. It can help to save time when the dataset is huge with numerous plugins and options for image processing and analysis with reliable results. Diverse studies implemented distinct binarization and thresholding techniques, resulting in disparate outcomes and incomparable parameters. Uniformity in methodology is required to acquire comparable data from studies employing diverse processing and analysis techniques that yield varied outcomes., Conclusion: Researchers and professionals might benefit from using ImageJ because of how quickly and correctly it processes and analyzes images. It is highly adaptable and potent software, allowing users to evaluate images in a variety of ways. There exists a diverse range of methodologies for analyzing OCTA images through the utilization of ImageJ. However, it is imperative to establish a standardized strategy to ensure the reliability and consistency of the method for research purposes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Masoud Rahimi et al.)

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease and a growing global epidemic. In NAFLD, liver fat surpasses 5% of hepatocytes without the secondary causes of lipid accumulation or excessive alcohol consumption. Given the link between NAFLD and insulin resistance, the possible association between the rs2854744 (-202 G>T) promoter polymorphism of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 ( IGFBP3 ) gene and NAFLD was investigated in this study., Materials and Methods: In this genetic case-control association study, the IGFBP3 rs2854744 genotypes of 315 unrelated individuals, including 156 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 159 controls, were determined using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses., Results: The "GT+TT" genotype of the IGFBP3 rs2854744 polymorphism, compared with the "GG" genotype, was associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk of NAFLD after adjustment for confounding factors (P = 0.009; odds ratio [OR] = 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-3.18). Additionally, the IGFBP3 rs2854744 "T" allele, in comparison with the "G" allele, was significantly overrepresented in NAFLD patients than the controls (P = 0.008; OR = 1.85; 95%CI = 1.23-2.94)., Conclusion: Our findings first indicated that the IGFBP3 rs2854744 "GT+TT" genotype is a marker of increased NAFLD susceptibility; however, it needs to be supported by further investigations in other populations.

An electrochemical sensory platform is presented for determination of sumatriptan (SUM) in aqueous solutions and human blood serum. A pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was electrochemically delaminated by cyclic voltammetry technique, and then further modified using nanoparticles of a zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn(II)-MOF). The fabricated Zn(II)-MOF/EDPGE electrode was utilized for sensitive electrochemical detection of SUM via an electro-oxidation reaction. The Zn(II)-MOF was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by various techniques. The electrochemical delamination of PGE results in a porous substrate, facilitating the effective immobilization of the modifier. The designed sensor benefits from both enhanced surface area and an accelerated electron transfer rate, as evidenced by the chronocoulogram and Nyquist plots. Under optimized conditions, the developed sensor exhibited a linear response for 0.99-9.52 µM SUM solutions. A short response time of 5 s was observed for the fabricated sensor and the detection limit was found to be 0.29 μM. Selectivity of Zn(II)-MOF/EDPGE towards SUM was evaluated by examining the interference effect of codeine, epinephrine, acetaminophen, ascorbic acid, and uric acid, which are commonly found in biological samples. The developed sensor shows excellent performance with recovery values falling within the range of 96.6 to 111% for the analysis of SUM in human blood serum samples., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Introduction: Understanding the clinical potency of latency-reversing agents (LRAs) on the HIV-1 reservoir is useful to deploy future strategies. This systematic review evaluated the effects of LRAs in human intervention studies., Methods: A literature search was performed using medical databases focusing on studies with adults living with HIV-1 receiving LRAs. Eligibility criteria required participants from prospective clinical studies, a studied compound hypothesised as LRA, and reactivation or tolerability assessments. Relevant demographical data, LRA reactivation capacity, reservoir size, and adverse events were extracted. A study quality assessment with analysis of bias was performed by RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. The primary endpoints were HIV-1 reservoir reactivation after LRA treatment quantified by cell-associated unspliced HIV-1 RNA, and LRA tolerability defined by adverse events. Secondary outcomes were reservoir size and the effect of LRAs on analytical treatment interruption (ATI) duration., Results: After excluding duplicates, 5182 publications were screened. In total 45 publications fulfilled eligibility criteria including 26 intervention studies and 16 randomised trials. The risk of bias was evaluated as high. Chromatin modulators were the main investigated LRA class in 24 studies. Participants were mostly males (90.1%). Where reported, HIV-1 subtype B was most frequently observed. Reactivation after LRA treatment occurred in 78% of studies and was observed with nearly all chromatin modulators. When measured, reactivation mostly occurred within 24 h after treatment initiation. Combination LRA strategies have been infrequently studied and were without synergistic reactivation. Adverse events, where reported, were mostly low grade, yet occurred frequently. Seven studies had individuals who discontinued LRAs for related adverse events. The reservoir size was assessed by HIV-1 DNA in 80% of studies. A small decrease in reservoir was observed in three studies on immune checkpoint inhibitors and the histone deacetylase inhibitors romidepsin and chidamide. No clear effect of LRAs on ATI duration was observed., Conclusion: This systematic review provides a summary of the reactivation of LRAs used in current clinical trials whilst highlighting the importance of pharmacovigilance. Highly heterogeneous study designs and underrepresentation of relevant patient groups are to be considered when interpreting these results. The observed reactivation did not lead to cure or a significant reduction in the size of the reservoir. Finding more effective LRAs by including well-designed studies are needed to define the required reactivation level to reduce the HIV-1 reservoir., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: KSH received travel and conference compensation from Gilead. CR received unrestricted grants for investigator initiated research, advisory board participants, and travel compensation from ViiV and Gilead. All other authors declare no potential competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Prcis: We developed a deep learning-based classifier that can discriminate primary angle closure suspects (PACS), primary angle closure (PAC)/primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), and also control eyes with open angle with acceptable accuracy., Purpose: To develop a deep learning-based classifier for differentiating subtypes of primary angle closure disease, including PACS and PAC/PACG, and also normal control eyes., Materials and Methods: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography images were used for analysis with 5 different networks including MnasNet, MobileNet, ResNet18, ResNet50, and EfficientNet. The data set was split with randomization performed at the patient level into a training plus validation set (85%), and a test data set (15%). Then 4-fold cross-validation was used to train the model. In each mentioned architecture, the networks were trained with original and cropped images. Also, the analyses were carried out for single images and images grouped on the patient level (case-based). Then majority voting was applied to the determination of the final prediction., Results: A total of 1616 images of normal eyes (87 eyes), 1055 images of PACS (66 eyes), and 1076 images of PAC/PACG (66 eyes) eyes were included in the analysis. The mean ± SD age was 51.76 ± 15.15 years and 48.3% were males. MobileNet had the best performance in the model, in which both original and cropped images were used. The accuracy of MobileNet for detecting normal, PACS, and PAC/PACG eyes was 0.99 ± 0.00, 0.77 ± 0.02, and 0.77 ± 0.03, respectively. By running MobileNet in a case-based classification approach, the accuracy improved and reached 0.95 ± 0.03, 0.83 ± 0.06, and 0.81 ± 0.05, respectively. For detecting the open angle, PACS, and PAC/PACG, the MobileNet classifier achieved an area under the curve of 1, 0.906, and 0.872, respectively, on the test data set., Conclusion: The MobileNet-based classifier can detect normal, PACS, and PAC/PACG eyes with acceptable accuracy based on anterior segment optical coherence tomography images., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The recommended treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) is tumor resection followed by adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) bladder instillations. However, only 50% of patients benefit from this therapy. If progression to advanced disease occurs, then patients must undergo a radical cystectomy with risks of substantial morbidity and poor clinical outcome. Identifying tumors unlikely to respond to BCG can translate into alternative treatments, such as early radical cystectomy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapies. Here, we conducted molecular profiling of 132 patients with BCG-naive HR-NMIBC and 44 patients with recurrences after BCG (34 matched), which uncovered three distinct BCG response subtypes (BRS1, 2 and BRS3). Patients with BRS3 tumors had a reduced recurrence-free and progression-free survival compared with BRS1/2. BRS3 tumors expressed high epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and basal markers and had an immunosuppressive profile, which was confirmed with spatial proteomics. Tumors that recurred after BCG were enriched for BRS3. BRS stratification was validated in a second cohort of 151 BCG-naive patients with HR-NMIBC, and the molecular subtypes outperformed guideline-recommended risk stratification based on clinicopathological variables. For clinical application, we confirmed that a commercially approved assay was able to predict BRS3 tumors with an area under the curve of 0.87. These BCG response subtypes will allow for improved identification of patients with HR-NMIBC at the highest risk of progression and have the potential to be used to select more appropriate treatments for patients unlikely to respond to BCG.

NiO x -based inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have presented great potential toward low-cost, highly efficient and stable next-generation photovoltaics. However, the presence of energy-level mismatch and contact-interface defects between hole-selective contacts (HSCs) and perovskite-active layer (PAL) still limits device efficiency improvement. Here, we report a graded configuration based on both interface-cascaded structures and p-type molecule-doped composites with two-/three-dimensional formamidinium-based triple-halide perovskites. We find that the interface defects-induced non-radiative recombination presented at HSCs/PAL interfaces is remarkably suppressed because of efficient hole extraction and transport. Moreover, a strong chemical interaction, halogen bonding and coordination bonding are found in the molecule-doped perovskite composites, which significantly suppress the formation of halide vacancy and parasitic metallic lead. As a result, NiO x -based inverted PSCs present a power-conversion-efficiency over 23% with a high fill factor of 0.84 and open-circuit voltage of 1.162 V, which are comparable to the best reported around 1.56-electron volt bandgap perovskites. Furthermore, devices with encapsulation present high operational stability over 1,200 h during T 90 lifetime measurement (the time as a function of PCE decreases to 90% of its initial value) under 1-sun illumination in ambient-air conditions., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This research work explains the development of an electrochemical immunosensor for the selective recognition of SNCA in human biofluids. An innovative protocol was proposed for the green synthesis of gold nanoparticle-supported dimethylglyoxime (AuNPs@DMGO) using one-step electrogeneration method. Also, the application of AuNPs@DMGO for the sensitive quantification of α-Synuclein (SNCA) protein and its biomedical analysis. So, an innovative sandwich immunosensor was designed for the sensitive identification of SNCA antigen in an aqueous solution. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were decorated on the surface of the glassy carbon electrode by chronoamperometry technique to provide appropriate immobilization surface with a large number of active sites for immobilization of specific biotinylated antibody (Ab1) and against SNCA protein. Then, the sandwich-type immuno-platform was completed by the attachment of secondary antibody (HRP conjugated Ab [Ab2]) to the primary complexes on the surface of the electrode. For the first time, α-Synuclein protein was measured with an acceptable linear range of 4-64 ng/mL and a lower limit of quantification of 4 ng/mL. Benefiting from the simplicity and high sensitivity, the proposed method shows a potential of employment in clinical applications and high-throughput screening of Parkinson's disease using POC., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Reactivation of the latent HIV-1 reservoir is a first step toward triggering reservoir decay. Here, we investigated the impact of the BAF complex inhibitor pyrimethamine on the reservoir of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH). Twenty-eight PLWH on suppressive antiretroviral therapy were randomized (1:1:1:1 ratio) to receive pyrimethamine, valproic acid, both, or no intervention for 14 days. The primary end point was change in cell-associated unspliced (CA US) HIV-1 RNA at days 0 and 14. We observed a rapid, modest, and significant increase in (CA US) HIV-1 RNA in response to pyrimethamine exposure, which persisted throughout treatment and follow-up. Valproic acid treatment alone did not increase (CA US) HIV-1 RNA or augment the effect of pyrimethamine. Pyrimethamine treatment did not result in a reduction in the size of the inducible reservoir. These data demonstrate that the licensed drug pyrimethamine can be repurposed as a BAF complex inhibitor to reverse HIV-1 latency in vivo in PLWH, substantiating its potential advancement in clinical studies.

Background: Considering the role of visfatin in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a growing global epidemic, this article explores the potential association between the visfatin gene ( NAMPT ) and NAFLD. Methods: We used the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method to genotype the rs1319501 promoter variant of the NAMPT gene in 154 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 158 controls in this case-control genetic association study. Results: The 'CC+TC' genotype of NAMPT rs1319501 in comparison to the 'TT' genotype occurred less frequently in the cases with NAFLD than the controls, and the difference remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors (p = 0.029; odds ratio = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.31-0.82). Conclusion: This study showed, for the first time, that the carriers of the NAMPT rs1319501 'CC+TC' genotype had a 45% decreased risk for NAFLD.

Quantifying the smoothness of different layers of the retina can potentially be an important and practical biomarker in various pathologic conditions like diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this study is to develop an automated machine learning algorithm which uses support vector regression method with wavelet kernel and automatically segments two hyperreflective retinal layers (inner plexiform layer (IPL) and outer plexiform layer (OPL)) in 50 optical coherence tomography (OCT) slabs and calculates the smoothness index (SI). The Bland-Altman plots, mean absolute error, root mean square error and signed error calculations revealed a modest discrepancy between the manual approach, used as the ground truth, and the corresponding automated segmentation of IPL/ OPL, as well as SI measurements in OCT slabs. It was concluded that the constructed algorithm may be employed as a reliable, rapid and convenient approach for segmenting IPL/OPL and calculating SI in the appropriate layers., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Regarding the central role of insulin resistance in NAFLD, we explored whether insulin-like growth factor 1 ( IGF1 ) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 ( IGFBP3 ) gene variants were associated with NAFLD susceptibility., Methods: IGF1 (rs6214) and IGFBP3 (rs3110697) gene variants were genotyped in 154 cases with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 156 controls using PCR-RFLP method., Results: The IGF1 rs6214 "AA + AG" genotype compared with the "GG" genotype appeared to be a marker of decreased NAFLD susceptibility ( p  = .006; OR = 0.47, 95%CI = 0.28-0.80). Furthermore, the IGF1 rs6214 "A" allele was underrepresented in the cases than controls ( p  = .024; OR = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.40-0.94). However, we observed no significant difference in genotype or allele frequencies between the cases and controls for IGFBP3 gene., Conclusions: To our knowledge, these findings suggest, for the first time, that the IGF1 rs6214 "A" allele and "AA + AG" genotype have protective effects for NAFLD susceptibility. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to validate our findings.

The treatment options for hepatitis C have undergone noteworthy advancements since direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were introduced. The selection of a DAA therapy depends on the patient's genotype, treatment history, concomitant comorbidities, and concurrent medications. Pharmacists have a pivotal role in providing clarification and recommendations in selecting appropriate, individualized DAAs for patients. This commentary aims to (1) provide an overview of DAAs on the market for hepatitis C, and (2) describe the implication for the care of patients with hepatitis C in a community pharmacy. Community pharmacists can establish a workflow to recommend appropriate DAA therapy, identify drug interactions, and improve medication adherence and compliance with lab appointments., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Acute inflammatory diseases such as acute colitis, kidney injury, liver failure, lung injury, myocardial infarction, pancreatitis, septic shock, and spinal cord injury are significant causes of death worldwide. Despite advances in the understanding of its pathophysiology, there are many restrictions in the treatment of these diseases, and new therapeutic approaches are required. Mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy due to immunomodulatory and regenerative properties is a promising candidate for acute inflammatory disease management. Based on preclinical results, mesenchymal stem cells and their-derived secretome improved immunological and clinical parameters. Furthermore, many clinical trials of acute kidney, liver, lung, myocardial, and spinal cord injury have yielded promising results. In this review, we try to provide a comprehensive view of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy in acute inflammatory diseases as a new treatment approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests. This review has not been published previously and it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most prevalent type of pancreas cancer with a high mortality rate and its staging is highly dependent on the extent of involvement between the tumor and surrounding vessels, facilitating treatment response assessment in PDAC., Objective: This study aims at detecting and visualizing the tumor region and the surrounding vessels in PDAC CT scan since, despite the tumors in other abdominal organs, clear detection of PDAC is highly difficult., Material and Methods: This retrospective study consists of three stages: 1) a patch-based algorithm for differentiation between tumor region and healthy tissue using multi-scale texture analysis along with L1-SVM (Support Vector Machine) classifier, 2) a voting-based approach, developed on a standard logistic function, to mitigate false detections, and 3) 3D visualization of the tumor and the surrounding vessels using ITK-SNAP software., Results: The results demonstrate that multi-scale texture analysis strikes a balance between recall and precision in tumor and healthy tissue differentiation with an overall accuracy of 0.78±0.12 and a sensitivity of 0.90±0.09 in PDAC., Conclusion: Multi-scale texture analysis using statistical and wavelet-based features along with L1-SVM can be employed to differentiate between healthy and pancreatic tissues. Besides, 3D visualization of the tumor region and surrounding vessels can facilitate the assessment of treatment response in PDAC. However, the 3D visualization software must be further developed for integrating with clinical applications., Competing Interests: None, (Copyright: © Journal of Biomedical Physics and Engineering.)

Background: Despite the benefits of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy as an adjunctive treatment for thyroid cancer, it can be associated with several side effects. The main purpose of this study was to determine the changes in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium (Ca), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) at different doses of RAI therapy among patients who were referred to the nuclear medicine department of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who underwent RAI therapy at different doses of 100, 150, and 200 mCi. The ALP, Ca, and PTH levels of patients were measured before and 60 days after RAI therapy. Results: Our study revealed that RAI therapy at all doses significantly increased ALP level in comparison with baseline amounts (P≤0.05). However, changes in PTH and Ca levels were not significant among patients who received different doses of RAI (P˃0.05). Conclusion: RAI therapy could affect important hormones and enzymes such as ALP and PTH. This issue can be considered in diagnostic and therapeutic prescriptions of RAI for the treatment of thyroid cancer. [GMJ.2022;11:e2397] ., (Copyright© 2022, Galen Medical Journal.)

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease and one of the main global health issues in which liver fat surpasses 5% of hepatocytes without the secondary causes of lipid accumulation or excessive alcohol consumption. Owing to the link between NAFLD and insulin resistance (IR) and obesity and the role of resistin in theses metabolic disorders, we explored the possible association between resistin gene (RETN) variant and NAFLD., Methods: A total of 308 unrelated subjects, including 152 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 156 controls were enrolled and genotyped for the RETN gene rs3745367 variant using PCR-RFLP method., Results: NAFLD patients had higher liver enzymes, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) than the controls (P<0.001). However, we observed no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the cases with NAFLD and the controls for the RETN rs3745367 polymorphism either before or after adjustment for confounding factors including age, BMI, sex, smoking status, SBP, and DBP., Conclusion: To our knowledge, this study is the first one that investigated the association between RETN gene rs3745367 variant and biopsy-proven NAFLD. Our findings do not support a role for this gene polymorphism in NAFLD risk in Iranian population; nonetheless, they need to be further investigated in other populations.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging global chronic liver disease encompassing a wide spectrum of disorders ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Considering the strong association between NAFLD and insulin resistance, and the vital role of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in IR, we hypothesized that IGF1 gene polymorphism might be associated with NAFLD., Methods: A total of 302 subjects, including 149 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 153 controls, were enrolled in this case-control study. All the subjects were genotyped for the rs5742612 polymorphism of the IGF1 gene using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method., Results: The distribution of IGF1 rs5742612 genotypes and alleles differed significantly between the cases with NAFLD and controls. The IGF1 rs5742612 CC genotype compared with the TT genotype or the TT+TC genotype occurred more frequently in the cases than the controls and the differences remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors such as age and body mass index (P = .011, OR = 2.71, 95%CI = 1.16-5.85; and P = .032, OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.10-5.24, respectively)., Conclusion: For the first time, this study uncovered that the IGF1 rs5742612 CC genotype compared with the TT genotype or the TT+TC genotype had a 2.71-fold or 2.29-fold increased risk for NAFLD, respectively., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)