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High hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) is a non-thermal pasteurization technology which has already been applied in the food industries. Besides maintaining the food safety and quality, HPP also has potential applications in the enhancement of the health benefits of food products. This study examines the current progress of research on the use of HPP in the development of health foods. Through HPP, the nutritional value of food products can be enhanced or retained, including promotes the biosynthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the food materials, retains immunoglobulin components in dairy products, increases resistant starch content in cereals, and reduces the glycemic index of fruit and vegetable products, which facilitates better control of blood glucose levels and decreases calorie intake. HPP can also be utilized as a hurdle technology in combination with existing processing technologies for the development of low-sodium food products and the maintenance of microbial safety, thereby lowering the risk of triggering cardiovascular disease. Additionally, HPP can be used to enhance the diversity of probiotic food products. Appropriate sporogenous probiotics can be screened and added to various high-pressure processed food products as a certain bacterial count is still retained in the products after HPP. As HPP causes physical damage to the structures of food products, it can also be used as a synergistic extraction technology to enhance the extraction efficiency of functional components, thereby reducing extraction time. By applying HPP in the extraction of functional components from food waste, the production costs of such components can be effectively reduced. This study provides a summary of the mechanisms by which HPP enhances the health benefits of food products and the current progress of relevant research. HPP possesses huge potential in the development of novel health foods and may provide an abundance of benefits to human health in the future. [Display omitted] •HPP has potential applications in the enhancement of the health benefits of food products.•The nutritional value of food material and products can be enhanced or retained by HPP.•HPP can be a hurdle in combination with existing processing for the development of low-sodium food products.•HPP causes physical damage to the foods, enhance the extraction efficiency of functional components.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), or biliary tract cancer, has a poor prognosis. The median survival time among patients with CCA is under 2 years from diagnosis, and the global 5-year survival rate is only 10%. First-line therapy with chemotherapeutic agents, gemcitabine plus cisplatin, has traditionally been used to treat unresectable advanced CCA. In recent years, precision medicine has become a mainstream cancer treatment due to innovative next-generation sequencing technology. Several genetic alterations, including mutations, gene fusions, and copy number variations, have been found in CCA. In this review, we summarized the current understanding of genetic profiling in CCA and targeted therapy in CCA. Owing to the high heterogeneity of CCA, tumor microenvironmental factors, and the complexity of tumor biology, only pemigatinib, infigratinib, ivosidenib, larotrbctinib, and entrectinib are currently approved for the treatment of CCA patients with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene (FGFR2) fusion, isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH1) mutation, and neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase gene (NRTK) fusion, respectively. Additional targeted therapies, including other FGFR2 inhibitors, PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, and BRAF-directed targeted therapy, have been discussed for the management of CCA, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly pembrolizumab, can be administered to patients with high microsatellite instability tumors. There is a further need for improvement in precision medicine therapies in the treatment of CCA and discuss the approved and potential targeted therapies for CCA.

The study aims to compare the efficacy/safety of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) vs. conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (CPCS). A systematic search/analysis of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to January 2023 was conducted without date/language restrictions. Weighted mean differences, risk ratios, and Hedges’ g with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The stability of results was assessed using trial sequential analysis (TSA). International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews Registration No. PROSPERO CRD42023393323. Forty-six randomized controlled trials (8,871 eyes) revealed that FLACS yielded a significantly better corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) 1 week postoperatively ( P  = 0.011) with no significant differences in CDVA beyond 1 week ( P  = 0.161, 0.429, 0.403), or in uncorrected distance visual acuity ( P  = 0.171, 0.136, 0.322, 0.149), spherical equivalent, or surgically induced astigmatism. Concerning safety outcomes, no significant differences were observed in overall complications ( P  = 0.999). These findings were supported by TSA. Ultimately, the overall complications, patient-reported health, visual, and daily-activity outcomes were not significantly different between FLACS and CPCS. Regarding extended-term and patient-centered outcomes, we identified no substantial disparities in visual acuity, complications, or patient-reported outcomes between FLACS and CPCS. Subgroup analysis showed consistent efficacy and safety across diverse laser platforms. Notably, FLACS exhibited no clear cost-effectiveness advantage over CPCS.

This study investigated the relationship between sagittal spinal alignment and musculoskeletal health in older women, particularly those exhibiting diminished bone density without apparent symptoms. The study assessed the impact of global tilt (GT) and the presence of coronal malalignment on spinal health. The research involved 165 asymptomatic older women with an average age of 68.91 ± 7.25 years and average body mass index of 24.26 ± 3.66 kg/m². Comprehensive standing anteroposterior and lateral spine radiographs were used for assessment. Through multivariate linear regression analysis, the study identified significant correlations between increased GT angles and various factors, including coronal malalignment, the C7 slope, and pelvic incidence. This led to the formulation of a predictive GT model: GT = −9.79 + 0.06 × menopausal period + 0.19 × body mass index (BMI)− 0.81 × average T score – 0.11 × grip strength + 3.03 × (presence of coronal malalignment) + 0.08 × sagittal vertical axis (SVA) + 0.12 × C7 slope − 0.35 × upper lumbar lordosis (ULL) − 0.43 × lower lumbar lordosis (LLL) + 0.70 × pelvic incidence (PI), with an adjusted R² of 0.816. The study findings highlight the prevalence of coronal malalignment in this demographic and its significant associations with critical spinal parameters. The proposed GT predictive model may enable development of personalized treatment plans for older women with low bone mass.

East Asia currently has the largest SO 2 and NO x emissions in the world. The long-range transport (LRT) of acidic pollutants in this region is of great concern but the extent is not well understood. Here results from combined long-term (⩾20 years) atmospheric deposition monitoring and air trajectory analysis in East Asia were reported. The results showed that despite the large decrease of SO 2 and NO x emissions in Taiwan, annual deposition of non-sea-salt sulfate (nss- SO 4 2 − ) in northern Taiwan showed no decreasing trend during 1994–2020. However, when divided seasonally, both nss- SO 4 2 − and nitrate ( NO 3 − ) deposition had a significant decreasing trend in the summer but not in the winter. Similar patterns were found for Japan and Korea. Air trajectory models in combination with a regional emission map indicate that LRT from eastern China contributed up to 70% of the winter deposition of nss- SO 4 2 − and NO 3 − in Taiwan and up to 50% in Japan and Korea. The results indicate that LRT obscured the efficacy of local pollution control measures in East Asia and suggest that transboundary air pollution regulations are required to combat acid deposition.

Purpose: To comprehensively assess rebound effects by comparing myopia progression during atropine treatment and after discontinuation. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted up to 20 September 2023, using the keywords “myopia,\" “rebound,” and “discontinue.\" Language restrictions were not applied, and reference lists were scrutinized for relevant studies. Our study selection criteria focused on randomized control trials and interventional studies involving children with myopia, specifically those treated with atropine or combination therapies for a minimum of 6 months, followed by a cessation period of at least 1 month. The analysis centered on reporting annual rates of myopia progression, considering changes in spherical equivalent (SE) or axial length (AL). Data extraction was performed by three independent reviewers, and heterogeneity was assessed using I 2 statistics. A random-effects model was applied, and effect sizes were determined through weighted mean differences with 95% confidence intervals Our primary outcome was the evaluation of rebound effects on spherical equivalent or axial length. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on cessation and treatment durations, dosage levels, age, and baseline SE to provide a nuanced understanding of the data. Results: The analysis included 13 studies involving 2060 children. Rebound effects on SE were significantly higher at 6 months (WMD, 0.926 D/y; 95%CI, 0.288–1.563 D/y; p = .004) compared to 12 months (WMD, 0.268 D/y; 95%CI, 0.077–0.460 D/y; p = .006) after discontinuation of atropine. AL showed similar trends, with higher rebound effects at 6 months (WMD, 0.328 mm/y; 95%CI, 0.165–0.492 mm/y; p < .001) compared to 12 months (WMD, 0.121 mm/y; 95%CI, 0.02–0.217 mm/y; p = .014). Sensitivity analyses confirmed consistent results. Shorter treatment durations, younger age, and higher baseline SE levels were associated with more pronounced rebound effects. Transitioning or stepwise cessation still caused rebound effects but combining optical therapy with atropine seemed to prevent the rebound effects. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis highlights the temporal and dose-dependent rebound effects after discontinuing atropine. Individuals with shorter treatment durations, younger age, and higher baseline SE tend to experience more significant rebound effects. Further research on the rebound effect is warranted. Systematic Review Registration: [ https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=463093 ], identifier [registration number]

There are growing needs to broaden and deepen our multi-faceted understanding of the ecosystems, and the networks of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) can play significant roles in fostering and applying ecosystem studies at regional and global scales. The International LTER Network (ILTER) is organized as a global network of field research sites and scientists to address current ecological issues such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation within a globally changing environment. The ILTER East Asia–Pacific Regional Network (ILTER-EAP) is one of the four constituent ILTER regional networks. Since 1995, ILTER-EAP has been developed to promote data sharing, research collaborations and capability building in the science and to bridge gaps between societal needs and scientific imperatives on concerns in the Asia–Pacific Region. Currently, ILTER-EAP comprises nine formal ILTER members and two associate networks. Their activities involve long-term and multiple-site observations of structural, functional and developmental aspects of ecosystems, data sharing, and bridging society and ecological science. This paper presents a review of the activities of ILTER-EAP, focusing on its: (1) vision and the development following its inception, (2) scientific activities and major outputs related to selected thematic areas, (3) contributions from ILTER-EAP to the international initiatives, and (4) future challenges and opportunities relating to its development and role in facilitating regional and global research collaborations. Accordingly, regional research questions were identified that could be most effectively addressed by opening up a common research platform, integrated data management system and the network science, which is open to all interested parties.

Objective Genomic biomarkers predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment outcomes for Asian metastatic melanoma have been rarely reported. This study presents data on next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and tumour microenvironment biomarkers in 33 cases. Methods Thirty‐three patients with advanced melanoma, who underwent ICI treatment at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, were recruited. The study evaluated clinical outcomes, including response rate, disease control rate, progression‐free survival (PFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate. Archived tissue samples from 33 cases were subjected to NGS by ACTOnco, and ACTTME was employed in 25 cases. Results The most prevalent driver mutations were BRAF mutations (24.2%), followed by NRAS (15.2%), KIT (12.1%), KRAS (9.1%) and NF1 (9.1%) mutations. Acral/mucosal melanomas exhibited distinct mutation patterns compared to non‐acral melanomas. Tumour mutational burden estimated using ACTOnco was not associated with ICI efficacy. Notably, genetic alterations in the p53 pathway (CDKNA2 loss, MDM2 gain/amplification and TP53 mutation) accounted for 36.4% and were significantly associated with unfavourable PFS (median PFS 2.7 months vs. 3.9 months, P = 0.0394). Moreover, 26 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes that were upregulated in patients with clinical benefits compared to those without benefits. Four genes, GZMH, GZMK, AIM2 and CTLA4, were found to be associated with both PFS and OS. Conclusion Genetic alterations in the p53 pathway may be critical in Asian patients with melanoma undergoing ICI treatment. Further investigation is required to explore this mechanism and validate these findings. The genetic landscape of melanoma response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been previously investigated, but without correlation with modulation of the tumour microenvironment in clinical survival and treatment outcomes. We used next‐generation sequencing to define the genetic biomarkers of Asian melanoma associated with ICI response. The p53 pathway (CDKN2A/MDM2/TP53) is a prognostic factor for progression‐free survival after ICI treatment in Taiwanese patients with melanoma.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive cancer that requirements rapid diagnosis and multimodal treatment. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) aids in personalized therapies and improved trial enrollment. The role of liquid-based NGS in ATC remains unclear. This study analyzed ATC samples using tissue-based NGS, liquid-based NGS, or both platforms. Genetic alterations showed highly heterogeneity, including mutations in RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, cell cycle regulation, other receptor tyrosine kinases, DNA damage response, mismatch repair, and chromatin remodeling. TP53 (65.4%) and BRAF (30.8%) were the most frequently mutated genes in tissue NGS. In paired samples, the concordance rates were 69.2% for TP53 and 84.6% for BRAF. One of two patients treated with dabrafenib and trametinib showed a copy number gain in post-treatment tissue NGS, potentially indicating resistance. Liquid biopsy provides valuable supplementary information when tissue samples are insufficient. Further studies are necessary to understand resistance mechanisms and develop strategies to overcome them in BRAF-targeted therapy.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a subtype of CCA and has a high mortality rate and a relatively poor prognosis. However, studies focusing on increased cell motility and loss of epithelial integrity during iCCA progression remain relatively scarce. We collected seven fresh tumor samples from four patients to perform RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) to determine the transcriptome profile and chromatin accessibility of iCCA. The increased expression of cell cycle regulators, including PLK1 and its substrate MISP, was identified. Ninety-one iCCA patients were used to validate the clinical significance of PLK1 and MISP. The upregulation of PLK1 and MISP was determined in iCCA tissues. Increased expression of PLK1 and MISP was significantly correlated with tumor number, N stage, and lymphatic invasion in an iCCA cohort. Knockdown of PLK1 or MISP reduced trans-lymphatic endothelial migration and wound healing and affected focal adhesions in vitro. In cell‒cell junctions, MISP localized to adherens junctions and suppressed E-cadherin dimerization. PLK1 disrupted adherens junctions in a myosin-dependent manner. Furthermore, PLK1 and MISP promoted cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. In iCCA, PLK1 and MISP promote aggressiveness by increasing lymphatic invasion, tumor growth, and motility through the repression of E-cadherin adherens junctions.