Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits an altered metabolic profile compared to normal pancreatic tissue. However, studies on actual pancreatic tissues are limited. Untargeted metabolomics analysis was conducted on 54 pairs of tumor and matched normal tissues. Taurine levels were validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) on separate PDAC and normal tissues.Bioinformatics analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics data evaluated genes associated with taurine metabolism. Identified taurine-associated gene was validated through gene modulation. Clinical implications were evaluated using patient data. Metabolomics analysis showed a 2.51-fold increase in taurine in PDAC compared to normal tissues (n=54). IHC confirmed this in independent samples (n=99 PDAC, 19 normal). Bioinformatics identified 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO) as a key gene modulating taurine metabolism. IHC on a tissue microarray (39 PDAC, 10 normal) confirmed elevated ADO in PDAC. The ADOTaurine axis correlated with PDAC recurrence and disease-free survival. ADO knockdown reduced cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. The MEK-related signaling pathway is suggested to be modulated by ADO-Taurine metabolism. Our multi-omics investigation revealed elevated taurine synthesis mediated by ADO upregulation in PDAC. The ADOTaurine axis may serve as a biomarker for PDAC prognosis and a therapeutic target.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits an altered metabolic profile compared to normal pancreatic tissue. However, studies on actual pancreatic tissues are limited. Untargeted metabolomics analysis was conducted on 54 pairs of tumor and matched normal tissues. Taurine levels were validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) on separate PDAC and normal tissues.Bioinformatics analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics data evaluated genes associated with taurine metabolism. Identified taurine-associated gene was validated through gene modulation. Clinical implications were evaluated using patient data. Metabolomics analysis showed a 2.51-fold increase in taurine in PDAC compared to normal tissues (n=54). IHC confirmed this in independent samples (n=99 PDAC, 19 normal). Bioinformatics identified 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO) as a key gene modulating taurine metabolism. IHC on a tissue microarray (39 PDAC, 10 normal) confirmed elevated ADO in PDAC. The ADOTaurine axis correlated with PDAC recurrence and disease-free survival. ADO knockdown reduced cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. The MEK-related signaling pathway is suggested to be modulated by ADO-Taurine metabolism. Our multi-omics investigation revealed elevated taurine synthesis mediated by ADO upregulation in PDAC. The ADOTaurine axis may serve as a biomarker for PDAC prognosis and a therapeutic target.

The medical metaverse can be defined as a virtual spatiotemporal framework wherein higher-dimensional medical information is generated, exchanged, and utilized through communication among medical personnel or patients. This occurs through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, and others. We can envision a future neurosurgical operating room that utilizes such medical metaverse concept such as shared extended reality (AR/VR) of surgical field, AI-powered intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, and real-time intraoperative tissue diagnosis. The future neurosurgical operation room will evolve into a true medical metaverse where participants of surgery can communicate in overlapping virtual layers of surgery, monitoring, and diagnosis.

The medical metaverse can be defined as a virtual spatiotemporal framework wherein higher-dimensional medical information is generated, exchanged, and utilized through communication among medical personnel or patients. This occurs through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, and others. We can envision a future neurosurgical operating room that utilizes such medical metaverse concept such as shared extended reality (AR/VR) of surgical field, AI-powered intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, and real-time intraoperative tissue diagnosis. The future neurosurgical operation room will evolve into a true medical metaverse where participants of surgery can communicate in overlapping virtual layers of surgery, monitoring, and diagnosis.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits an altered metabolic profile compared to normal pancreatic tissue. However, studies on actual pancreatic tissues are limited. Untargeted metabolomics analysis was conducted on 54 pairs of tumor and matched normal tissues. Taurine levels were validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) on separate PDAC and normal tissues.Bioinformatics analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics data evaluated genes associated with taurine metabolism. Identified taurine-associated gene was validated through gene modulation. Clinical implications were evaluated using patient data. Metabolomics analysis showed a 2.51-fold increase in taurine in PDAC compared to normal tissues (n=54). IHC confirmed this in independent samples (n=99 PDAC, 19 normal). Bioinformatics identified 2-aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO) as a key gene modulating taurine metabolism. IHC on a tissue microarray (39 PDAC, 10 normal) confirmed elevated ADO in PDAC. The ADOTaurine axis correlated with PDAC recurrence and disease-free survival. ADO knockdown reduced cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. The MEK-related signaling pathway is suggested to be modulated by ADO-Taurine metabolism. Our multi-omics investigation revealed elevated taurine synthesis mediated by ADO upregulation in PDAC. The ADOTaurine axis may serve as a biomarker for PDAC prognosis and a therapeutic target.

The medical metaverse can be defined as a virtual spatiotemporal framework wherein higher-dimensional medical information is generated, exchanged, and utilized through communication among medical personnel or patients. This occurs through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, and others. We can envision a future neurosurgical operating room that utilizes such medical metaverse concept such as shared extended reality (AR/VR) of surgical field, AI-powered intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, and real-time intraoperative tissue diagnosis. The future neurosurgical operation room will evolve into a true medical metaverse where participants of surgery can communicate in overlapping virtual layers of surgery, monitoring, and diagnosis.

The medical metaverse can be defined as a virtual spatiotemporal framework wherein higher-dimensional medical information is generated, exchanged, and utilized through communication among medical personnel or patients. This occurs through the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), big data, cloud computing, and others. We can envision a future neurosurgical operating room that utilizes such medical metaverse concept such as shared extended reality (AR/VR) of surgical field, AI-powered intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, and real-time intraoperative tissue diagnosis. The future neurosurgical operation room will evolve into a true medical metaverse where participants of surgery can communicate in overlapping virtual layers of surgery, monitoring, and diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: Observational studies have reported that diabetes is a risk factor that increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the causal relationship remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between fasting serum glucose (FSG) and ASCVD. METHODS: This study used data from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II) Biobank, consisting of 159,844 people recruited with consent from 18 health examination centers from 2004 to 2013. Outcomes were confirmed based on diagnoses on hospital discharge summaries from National Health Insurance System. We used linear and non-linear Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. The outcome data were obtained from KCPS-II, and the exposure data were derived from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. RESULTS: First, a prospective cohort study estimated that for each 10 mg/dL increase in FSG level, the risk of ASCVD increased by 4% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.05). Second, the 2-sample MR study showed that every 10 mg/dL increase in FSG influenced the risk of ASCVD (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.18). Third, the multivariable MR study showed that the OR per 10 mg/dL increase in FSG on ASCVD was 1.14 (p<0.001). Similar results were found for a 10 mg/dL increase in FSG and ischemic heart disease (IHD), but a significant relationship with stroke was not found. When performing non-linear MR, a linear relationship was observed between fasting blood sugar and ASCVD, including IHD and stroke. CONCLUSIONS FSG showed a linear and causal association with IHD, but not with stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Observational studies have reported that diabetes is a risk factor that increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the causal relationship remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between fasting serum glucose (FSG) and ASCVD. METHODS: This study used data from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II) Biobank, consisting of 159,844 people recruited with consent from 18 health examination centers from 2004 to 2013. Outcomes were confirmed based on diagnoses on hospital discharge summaries from National Health Insurance System. We used linear and non-linear Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. The outcome data were obtained from KCPS-II, and the exposure data were derived from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. RESULTS: First, a prospective cohort study estimated that for each 10 mg/dL increase in FSG level, the risk of ASCVD increased by 4% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.05). Second, the 2-sample MR study showed that every 10 mg/dL increase in FSG influenced the risk of ASCVD (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.18). Third, the multivariable MR study showed that the OR per 10 mg/dL increase in FSG on ASCVD was 1.14 (p<0.001). Similar results were found for a 10 mg/dL increase in FSG and ischemic heart disease (IHD), but a significant relationship with stroke was not found. When performing non-linear MR, a linear relationship was observed between fasting blood sugar and ASCVD, including IHD and stroke. CONCLUSIONS FSG showed a linear and causal association with IHD, but not with stroke.

OBJECTIVES: Observational studies have reported that diabetes is a risk factor that increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the causal relationship remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between fasting serum glucose (FSG) and ASCVD. METHODS: This study used data from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II) Biobank, consisting of 159,844 people recruited with consent from 18 health examination centers from 2004 to 2013. Outcomes were confirmed based on diagnoses on hospital discharge summaries from National Health Insurance System. We used linear and non-linear Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. The outcome data were obtained from KCPS-II, and the exposure data were derived from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. RESULTS: First, a prospective cohort study estimated that for each 10 mg/dL increase in FSG level, the risk of ASCVD increased by 4% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.05). Second, the 2-sample MR study showed that every 10 mg/dL increase in FSG influenced the risk of ASCVD (odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.18). Third, the multivariable MR study showed that the OR per 10 mg/dL increase in FSG on ASCVD was 1.14 (p<0.001). Similar results were found for a 10 mg/dL increase in FSG and ischemic heart disease (IHD), but a significant relationship with stroke was not found. When performing non-linear MR, a linear relationship was observed between fasting blood sugar and ASCVD, including IHD and stroke. CONCLUSIONS FSG showed a linear and causal association with IHD, but not with stroke.