Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and is a major cause of cancer-related mortalities worldwide (Forner et al., 2018; He et al., 2023). Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by an accelerated loss of skeletal muscle (SM) mass that may be age-related or the result of malnutrition in cancer patients (Cruz-Jentoft and Sayer, 2019). Preoperative sarcopenia in HCC patients treated with hepatectomy or liver transplantation is an independent risk factor for poor survival (Voron et al., 2015; van Vugt et al., 2016). Previous studies have used various criteria to define sarcopenia, including muscle area and density. However, the lack of standardized diagnostic methods for sarcopenia limits their clinical use. In 2018, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) renewed a consensus on the definition of sarcopenia: low muscle strength, loss of muscle quantity, and poor physical performance (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2019). Radiological imaging-based measurement of muscle quantity or mass is most commonly used to evaluate the degree of sarcopenia. The gold standard is to measure the SM and/or psoas muscle (PM) area using abdominal computed tomography (CT) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), as it is linearly correlated to whole-body SM mass (van Vugt et al., 2016). According to a "North American Expert Opinion Statement on Sarcopenia," SM index (SMI) is the preferred measure of sarcopenia (Carey et al., 2019). The variability between morphometric muscle indexes revealed that they have different clinical relevance and are generally not applicable to broader populations (Esser et al., 2019).
Humans ; Aged ; Sarcopenia/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnostic imaging* ; Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging* ; Deep Learning ; Prognosis ; Radiomics ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

Recently,the substance P(SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor(NK-1R)system has been found to be involved in various human pathophysiological disorders including the symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Besides,studies in the oncological field have demonstrated an intricate correlation between the upregulation of NK-1R and the activation of SP/NK-1R system with the progression of multiple carcinoma types and poor clinical prognosis.These findings indicate that the modulation of SP/NK-1R system with NK-1R antagonists can be a potential broad-spectrum antitumor strategy.This review updates the latest potential and applications of NK-1R antagonists in the treatment of human diseases and cancers,as well as the underlying mechanisms.Furthermore,the strategies to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of NK-1R antagonist drugs are summarized,such as solid dispersion systems,nanonization,and nanoencapsulation.As a radiopharmaceutical therapeutic,the NK-1R antagonist aprepitant was originally developed as radioligand receptor to target NK-1R-overexpressing tumors.However,combining NK-1R antagonists with other drugs can produce a synergistic effect,thereby enhancing the therapeutic effect,alleviating the symptoms,and improving patients'quality of life in several diseases and cancers.

Acral melanoma(AM)is the most common histologic subtype of melanoma in dark-skinned patients and is associated with a worse prognosis and a high mortality rate,largely due to the inconspicuous nature of early-stage lesions,which can lead to late diagnosis.Because of the overlapping clinical and histopathological features of AM with other forms of cutaneous melanomas,early detection of AM requires a multidisciplinary approach that integrates various diagnostic modalities,including clinical examination,dermoscopy,histopathology,molecular testing,radiological imaging,and blood tests.While surgery is the preferred method of treatment for AM,other therapeutic options may be employed based on the stage and underlying etiology of the disease.Immune checkpoint inhibitors,molecular targeted therapy,radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and oncolytic virotherapy represent promising advanced treatment options for AM.In this review,we provide an overview of the latest advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic methods for AM,highlighting the importance of early detection and the prompt,individualized management of this challenging disease.

The technology of three-dimensional(3D)printing emerged in the late 1970s and has since undergone considerable development to find numerous applications in mechanical engineering,industrial design,and biomedicine.In biomedical science,several studies have initially found that 3D printing technology can play an important role in the treatment of diseases in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.For example,3D printing technology has been applied to create detailed anatomical models of disease organs for preoperative personalized surgical strategies,surgical simulation,intraoperative navigation,medical training,and patient education.Moreover,cancer models have been created using 3D printing technology for the research and selection of chemotherapy drugs.With the aim to clarify the development and application of 3D printing technology in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery,we introduce seven common types of 3D printing technology and review the status of research and application of 3D printing technology in the field of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

Atrial fibrillation(AF)is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia among humans,with its incidence increasing significantly with age.Despite the high frequency of AF in clinical practice,its etiology and management remain elusive.To develop effective treatment strategies,it is imperative to comprehend the underlying mechanisms of AF;therefore,the establishment of animal models of AF is vital to explore its pathogenesis.While spontaneous AF is rare in most animal species,several large animal models,particularly those of pigs,dogs,and horses,have proven as invaluable in recent years in advancing our knowledge of AF pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic options.This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion of various animal models of AF,with an emphasis on the unique features of each model and its utility in AF research and treatment.The data summarized in this review provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of AF and can be used to evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel therapeutic interventions.

Brain diseases affect millions of people and have a huge social and economic impact.The use of neural probes for studies in animals has been the main approach to increasing knowledge about neural network functioning.Ultimately,neuroscientists are trying to develop new and more effective therapeutic approaches to treating neurological disorders.The implementation of neural probes with multifunctionalities(electrical,optical,and fluidic interactions)has been increasing in the last few years,leading to the creation of devices with high temporal and spatial resolution.Increasing the applicability of,and elements integrated into,neural probes has also led to the necessity to create flexible interfaces,reducing neural tissue damage during probe implantation and increasing the quality of neural acquisition data.In this paper,we review the fabrication,characterization,and validation of several types of flexible neural probes,exploring the main advantages and drawbacks of these devices.Finally,future developments and applications are covered.Overall,this review aims to present the currently available flexible devices and future appropriate avenues for development as possible guidance for future engineered devices.

Energy metabolism is fundamental for life.It encompasses the utilization of carbohydrates,lipids,and proteins for internal processes,while aberrant energy metabolism is implicated in many diseases.In the present study,using three-dimensional(3D)printing from polycarbonate via fused deposition modeling,we propose a multi-nuclear radiofrequency(RF)coil design with integrated 1H birdcage and interchangeable X-nuclei(2H,13C,23Na,and 31P)single-loop coils for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)/magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS).The single-loop coil for each nucleus attaches to an arc bracket that slides unrestrictedly along the birdcage coil inner surface,enabling convenient switching among various nuclei and animal handling.Compared to a commercial 1H birdcage coil,the proposed 1H birdcage coil exhibited superior signal-excitation homogeneity and imaging signal-to-noise ratio(SNR).For X-nuclei study,prominent peaks in spectroscopy for phantom solutions showed excellent SNR,and the static and dynamic peaks of in vivo spectroscopy validated the efficacy of the coil design in structural imaging and energy metabolism detection simultaneously.

In the post-antibiotic era,the overuse of antimicrobials has led to a massive increase in antimicrobial resistance,leaving medical doctors few or no treatment options to fight infections caused by superbugs.The use of bacteriophages is a promising alternative to treat infections,supplementing or possibly even replacing antibiotics.Using phages for therapy is possible,since these bacterial viruses can kill bacteria specifically,causing no harm to the normal flora.However,bacteria have developed a multitude of sophisticated and complex ways to resist infection by phages,including abortive infection and the clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated(Cas)system.Phages also can evolve and acquire new anti-defense strategies to continue predation.An in-depth exploration of both defense and anti-defense mechanisms would contribute to optimizing phage therapy,while we would also gain novel insights into the microbial world.In this paper,we summarize recent research on bacterial phage resistance and phage anti-defense mechanisms,as well as collaborative win-win systems involving both virus and host.

Osteoarthritis(OA),characterized by cartilage degeneration,synovial inflammation,and subchondral bone remodeling,is among the most common musculoskeletal disorders globally in people over 60 years of age.The initiation and progression of OA involves the abnormal metabolism of chondrocytes as an important pathogenic process.Cartilage degeneration features mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the important causative factors of abnormal chondrocyte metabolism.Therefore,maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is an important strategy to mitigate OA.Mitophagy is a vital process for autophagosomes to target,engulf,and remove damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria,thereby maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis.Cumulative studies have revealed a strong association between mitophagy and OA,suggesting that the regulation of mitophagy may be a novel therapeutic direction for OA.By reviewing the literature on mitophagy and OA published in recent years,this paper elaborates the potential mechanism of mitophagy regulating OA,thus providing a theoretical basis for studies related to mitophagy to develop new treatment options for OA.

The endoplasmic reticulum is a key site for protein production and quality control.More than one-third of proteins are synthesized and folded into the correct three-dimensional conformation in the endoplasmic reticulum.However,during protein folding,unfolded and/or misfolded proteins are prone to occur,which may lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Organisms can monitor the quality of the proteins produced by endoplasmic reticulum quality control(ERQC)and endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation(ERAD),which maintain endoplasmic reticulum protein homeostasis by degrading abnormally folded proteins.The underlying mechanisms of protein folding and ERAD in mammals have not yet been fully explored.Therefore,this paper reviews the process and function of protein folding and ERAD in mammalian cells,in order to help clinicians better understand the mechanism of ERAD and to provide a scientific reference for the treatment of diseases caused by abnormal ERAD.