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Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), a vital energy reservoir and endocrine organ for maintaining systemic glucose, lipid, and energy homeostasis, undergoes significant changes with age. However, among the existing aging‐related markers, only few genes are associated with SAT aging. In this study, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was used on a transcriptome of SAT obtained from the Genotype‐Tissue Expression portal to identify biologically relevant, SAT‐specific, and age‐related marker genes. We found modules that exhibited significant changes with age and identified GYG2 as a novel key aging associated gene. The link between GYG2 and mitochondrial function as well as brown/beige adipocytes was supported using additional bioinformatics and experimental analyses. Additionally, we identified PPARG as the transcription factor of GYG2 expression. The newly discovered GYG2 marker can be used to not only determine the age of SAT but also uncover new mechanisms underlying SAT aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the WAD Characteristics were improved by forming a concave‐convex scattering structure on the organic planarization layer of large size AMOLED backplane TFT. By using a slit mask of the scanner as a VIA mask on the photosensitive poly‐imide organic planarization film, a semi‐transmissive area and a contact hole were made simultaneously without adding a separate photo process to form a concave‐convex scattering structure. On top of that, ITO/Ag/ITO anode pixel, EL and cathode layers were sequentially formed to improve WAD Characteristics of the top emitting AMOLED panel. Confirming the effect of WAD improvement and reduction of frontal luminance when forming a concave‐convex structure from the existing EL Spectrum through simulation, angle of concave‐convex structure is 10~15° to satisfy the conditions of 30% improvement in WAD, 5% drop in frontal luminance, 40‐50% of Concave‐convex structure area ratio in the planarization film was derived. As a result of fabricating a large size AMOLED top emitting panel, when Concave‐convex scattering angle of 5 ~ 12° is formed, WAD 10~24% improvement and frontal luminance drop within 5% can be seen. it was possible to confirm uniformly improved WAD value within Δu'v' 0.014 ~ 0.018 at the center/edge 9 Points compared to the normal panel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) and European Association for the Study (EASL) criteria for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis have been updated in 2018. We aimed to compare the HCC diagnostic performance of LI‐RADS and EASL criteria with extracellular contrast agents‐MRI (ECA‐MRI) and hepatobiliary agents‐MRI (HBA‐MRI). Methods: We prospectively evaluated 179 participants with cirrhosis (n = 105) or non‐cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (n = 74) who underwent both ECA‐MRI and HBA‐MRI before surgery for de novo nodule(s) measuring 10‐30 mm. We compared the HCC diagnostic performance of EASL and LR‐5 in both MRIs. Results: In an analysis of 215 observations (175 HCCs, 17 non‐HCC malignancies and 23 benign lesions) identified from cirrhotic or non‐cirrhotic CHB participants, LR‐5 with ECA‐MRI provided the highest sensitivity (80.7%), followed by EASL with ECA‐MRI (76.2%), LR‐5 with HBA‐MRI (67.3%) and EASL with HBA‐MRI (63.0%, all P <.05). The specificities were comparable (89.4%‐91.5%). When the analysis is limited to participants with pathological cirrhosis (123 observations), the sensitivity of LR‐5 with ECA‐MRI was similar to that of EASL with ECA‐MRI (82.7% vs 80.2%, P =.156), but higher than LR‐5 with HBA‐MRI (65.1%) or EASL with HBA‐MRI (62.8%, both P <.001), with comparable specificities (87.5%‐91.7%). Conclusions: The LR‐5 with ECA‐MRI yielded the highest sensitivity with a similar specificity for HCC diagnosis in cirrhosis and non‐cirrhotic CHB participants, while the sensitivities of LR‐5 and EASL with ECA‐MRI are similar for cirrhosis participants. This indicates non‐invasive diagnosis criteria can differ by contrast agents and presence of cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A radiofrequency ablation (RFA) needle integrated with a temperature sensor (T‐sensor) and pressure sensor (P‐sensor) is designed and utilized for real‐time internal steam pop monitoring during RFA. The characteristics of the sensor‐integrated RFA needle (sRFA‐needle) are investigated quantitatively using a pressure chamber system, and the feasibility and usability of the needle in preclinical and clinical trials is demonstrated. The sharp changes in the temperature and normalized pressure sensor signals induced by the abrupt release of hot and high‐pressure steam can be clearly monitored during the steam pop phenomena. The basic mechanism of the preliminary steam pop is hypothesized and verified using in situ ultrasound imaging data and computational analysis data of the RFA procedure. Moreover, the usability of the system in clinical trials is investigated, and the steam pop phenomena during the RFA procedure are detected using T‐sensor and P‐sensor. The results confirm that the sensor integration on the medical needle can provide critical data for safer and more effective medical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims To investigate the differences in mechanical effects and ablation zone between radiofrequency (RF) ablation with and without Sonazoid uptake in an in vivo rabbit liver model. Methods Our study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Twenty-five rabbits were randomly allotted to one of five ablation durations (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 min). For each rabbit, RF ablation was performed twice, before and 10 min after Sonazoid administration (i.e. control group vs. Sonazoid group), using a 1-cm internally cooled electrode (40W) equipped with a parallelly fixed pressure-monitoring device. During ablation, a 'popping' sound was perceived and recorded along with tissue pressure changes and RF ablation parameters. Then, the ablation volume and microscopic changes were compared. Results Popping sounds were more frequently perceived in the control group (21/25 vs. 1/25, P < 0.001). The time to first pressure peak was shorter in the Sonazoid group (22.3 ± 1.1 s vs. 46.3 ± 4.4 s, P < 0.001) with similar pressures (39.8 ± 4.2 mmHg vs. 35.6 ± 4.1 mmHg, P = 0.350). Time to first roll-off and mean power output were significantly less in the Sonazoid group (17.6 ± 1.2 s vs. 71.2 ± 8.2 s, P < 0.001; 9.4 ± 0.3 W vs. 12.8 ± 0.5 W, P < 0.001). Consequently, the Sonazoid group had lower total energy and ablation volumes for all durations. Microscopically, the control group showed larger conflu-ent disruptions, whereas the Sonazoid group showed many smaller disruptions scattered throughout the ablation zones. Conclusions Radiofrequency ablation after Sonazoid uptake induces a smaller ablation zone than conventional RF ablation. However, it appears to ablate the liver tissue with less mechanical effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims We investigated whether pre- or post-ablation serum alpha-foetoprotein ( AFP) and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin ( DCP) levels can predict prognosis in patients with curative radiofrequency ablation ( RFA) for hepatitis B virus ( HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC). Methods We retrospectively analysed 412 patients with HBV-related single HCC treated with percutaneous RFA between January 2004 and December 2013. AFP and DCP levels were measured before (pre-ablation) and 1 month after treatment (post-ablation). We assessed predictive factors for overall and recurrence-free survival. Results On univariate analysis, Child-Pugh score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, platelet count, tumour size, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer ( BCLC) stage, and pre- and post-ablation DCP were significant for overall survival; and age, Child-Pugh score, MELD score, platelet count, tumour size, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program ( CLIP) score, BCLC stage, and pre- and post-ablation AFP and DCP were significant for recurrence-free survival. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in overall survival by MELD score and tumour size and in recurrence-free survival by BCLC stage. Among the tumour markers, post-ablation DCP was an independent prognostic factor for overall and recurrence-free survival [hazard ratio ( HR), 3.438; 95% confidence interval ( CI), 1.331-8.877; P = 0.011 and HR, 4.934; 95% CI, 2.761-8.816; P < 0.001 respectively]. Post-ablation AFP was associated with recurrence-free survival ( HR, 1.995; 95% CI, 1.476-2.697; P < 0.001) but not overall survival. Conclusions In patients with HBV-related HCC, post-ablation serum DCP is a useful biomarker for predicting survival and recurrence after curative RFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]