Methods: This study involved 104 asymptomatic adults (females 62 [59.6%]) aged 18–50 years. Whole-spine standing lateral radiographs were obtained, and the pelvic, lumbar, thoracic, cervicothoracic, and cervical parameters were studied. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess correlations, with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 38.27±9.93 years. The pelvic incidence (PI) significantly correlated with C7 slope (r=−0.212, p=0.05). The pelvic tilt (PT) exhibited significant correlations with T1 slope−CL mismatch (r=−0.229, p=0.05) and C2 slope (r=−0.202, p=0.05). Furthermore, PI–LL mismatch showed a significant correlation with TIA (r=−0.197, p=0.05), T1 slope (r=−0.228, p=0.05), and C7 slope (r=−0.251, p=0.05). Conclusions This study reveals a significant correlation between cervical and spinopelvic parameters, emphasizing the interconnectedness of pelvic, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine parameters.

Background and Objectives: Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) is linked to coronary artery disease (CAD) progression through compositional changes that disrupt adipose homeostasis and affect vascular biology. This study explores how PCAT characteristics - volume and fat attenuation index (FAI)-relate to CAD severity and left ventricular (LV) function. Methods: This study included 100 patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and echocardiography between September 2023 and July 2024. PCAT volume, FAI and thickness were measured along coronary arteries (right coronary artery [RCA], left anterior descending [LAD], and left circumflex [LCX]). CAD severity was assessed using the Gensini score, while LV structural and functional metrics, including diastolic function, were obtained via echocardiography. Correlations between PCAT parameters, CAD burden, and LV function were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation and p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: RCA FAI exhibited the strongest association with CAD severity (Gensini score: r=0.416, p=0.026) and diastolic dysfunction (r=0.536, p<0.001), with progressively less negative values from Grade 1 to Grade 3 dysfunction. LAD and LCX (r=0.278, p=0.03) FAI displayed moderate associations. RCA volume correlated with LV mass index, fractional shortening and diastolic parameters. Hypertension was associated with elevated RCA FAI and volume (p<0.05), while diabetes showed no significant impact on PCAT metrics. Conclusions PCAT FAI is a sensitive marker of CAD severity and diastolic dysfunction, especially in the RCA, highlighting its value for detection, risk stratification, and personalized CAD management. Integration of PCAT metrics into routine CCTA analysis could enhance cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment planning.

Methods: In total, 108 patients who underwent surgery for traumatic LLFs between January 2010 and January 2020 were reviewed to obtain their demographic details, injury level, and neurology status at the time of presentation (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] grade). Preoperative computed tomography scans were used to measure parameters such as anterior vertebral body height, posterior vertebral body height, loss of vertebral body height, local kyphosis, retropulsion of fracture fragment, interpedicular distance, canal compromise, sagittal transverse ratio, and presence of vertical lamina fracture. MRI was used to measure the canal encroachment ratio (CER), cross-sectional area of the thecal sac (CSAT), and presence of an epidural hematoma. Results: Of the 108 patients, 9 (8.3%) had ASIA A, 4 (3.7%) had ASIA B, 17 (15.7%) had ASIA C, 21 (19.4%) had ASIA D, and 57 (52.9%) had ASIA E neurology upon admission. The Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity score (p =0.000), CER (p =0.050), and CSAT (p =0.019) were found to be independently associated with neurological deficits on the multivariate analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curves showed that only CER (area under the curve [AUC], 0.926; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.860–0.968) and CSAT (AUC, 0.963; 95% CI, 0.908–0.990) had good discriminatory ability, with the optimal cutoff of 50% and 65.3 mm2, respectively. Conclusions Based on the results, the optimal cutoff values of CER >50% and CSAT >65.3 mm2 can predict the incidence of neurological deficits in LLFs.

Background: Existing literature lacks high-quality evidence regarding the ideal intraoperative positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to minimize postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). We hypothesized that applying individualized PEEP derived from electrical impedance tomography would reduce the severity of postoperative lung aeration loss, deterioration in oxygenation, and PPC incidence. Methods: A pilot feasibility study was conducted on 36 patients who underwent open abdominal oncologic surgery. The patients were randomized to receive individualized PEEP or conventional PEEP at 4 cmH2O. The primary outcome was the impact of individualized PEEP on changes in the modified lung ultrasound score (MLUS) derived from preoperative and postoperative lung ultrasonography. A higher MLUS indicated greater lung aeration loss. The secondary outcomes were the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and PPC incidence. Results: A significant increase in the postoperative MLUS (12.0 ± 3.6 vs 7.9 ± 2.1, P < 0.001) and a significant difference between the postoperative and preoperative MLUS values (7.0 ± 3.3 vs 3.0 ± 1.6, P < 0.001) were found in the conventional PEEP group, indicating increased lung aeration loss. In the conventional PEEP group, the intraoperative PaO2/FiO2 ratios were significantly lower but not the postoperative ratios. The PPC incidence was not significantly different between the groups. Post-hoc analysis showed the increase in lung aeration loss and deterioration of intraoperative oxygenation correlated with the deviation from the individualized PEEP. Conclusions Individualized PEEP appears to protect against lung aeration loss and intraoperative oxygenation deterioration. The advantage was greater in patients whose individualized PEEP deviated more from the conventional PEEP.

OBJECTIVEAging is associated with the development of diseases because of immunosuppression and altered functioning of the neuroendocrine system. The medicinal properties of Morinda citrifolia L. have been widely exploited for the treatment of age-associated diseases. This study aims to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of noni (M. citrifolia) fruit juice (NFJ) on neuro-immunomodulation in the lymph node lymphocytes of F344 rats.

METHODSLymphocytes isolated from axillary and inguinal lymph nodes of young (3-4 months) and old (18-21 months) rats were treated in vitro with different concentrations (0.0001%, 0.01%, and 1%) of NFJ for a period of 24 h. In the in vivo study, old (16-17 months) male F344 rats were treated with 5 mL/kg body weight of 5%, 10% and 20% of NFJ, twice a day, by oral gavage, and lymph node lymphocytes were isolated after 60 d. Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced lymphocyte proliferation, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production and expression of intracellular markers, such as phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK1/2), phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein, phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt), phospho-tyrosine hydroxylase (p-TH), phospho-nuclear factor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-α (p-IκB-α) and phospho-nuclear factor-κB (p-NF-κB p65 and p50) were examined in the lymphocytes of lymph nodes.

RESULTSNFJ increased Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 and IFN-γ production, and p-ERK1/2 expression both in vitro and in vivo. In in vivo NFJ-treated old rats, lymph node lymphocytes showed increased expression of p-TH and Akt, nitric oxide production and decreased expression of p-NF-κB p65 and p50.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the immunostimulatory properties of NFJ are facilitated through intracellular signaling pathways involving ERK1/2, Akt and NF-κB.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Aging ; immunology ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Fruit ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fruit and Vegetable Juices ; analysis ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; Lymph Nodes ; cytology ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Morinda ; chemistry ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; immunology ; Plant Preparations ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Transcription Factor RelA ; immunology