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PURPOSE In rapidly acquired functional MRI (fast fMRI) data, the noise serial correlations (SC) can produce problematically overestimated T-statistics which lead to invalid statistical inferences. This study aims to evaluate and improve the accuracy of high-order autoregressive model (AR(p), where p is the model order) based prewhitening method in the SC correction. METHODS Fast fMRI images were acquired at rest (null data) using a multiband simultaneous multi-slice echo planar imaging pulse sequence with repetition time (TR) = 300 and 500 ms. The SC effect in the fast fMRI data was corrected using the prewhitening method based on two AR(p) models (1) the conventional model (fixed AR(p)) which preselects a constant p for all the image voxels; (2) an improved model (ARAICc ) that employs the corrected Akaike information criterion voxel-wise to automatically select the model orders for each voxel. To evaluate accuracy of SC correction, false positive characteristics were measured by assuming the presence of block and event-related tasks in the null data without image smoothing. The performance of prewhitening was also examined in smoothed images by adding pseudo task fMRI signals into the null data and comparing the detected to simulated activations (ground truth). RESULTS The measured false positive characteristics agreed well with the theoretical curve when using the ARAICc , and the activation maps in the smoothed data matched the ground truth. The ARAICc showed improved performance than the fixed AR(p) method. CONCLUSION The ARAICc can effectively remove noise SC, and accurate statistical analysis results can be obtained with the ARAICc correction in fast fMRI. © 2020 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.Angiogenesis and capillarization are completely distinct pathophysiological processes mediated by different subtypes of endothelial cells (ECs) in the liver. Both processes have been linked to liver fibrogenesis, but previous studies have not addressed this distinction explicitly. Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) is a secreted protein mainly produced by hepatocytes with expression in ECs as well, whose role in the liver has been poorly understood. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has revolutionized hepatitis C treatment. Short courses of treatment with these drugs are highly beneficial to patients, eliminating the hepatitis C virus (HCV) without adverse effects. However, this outstanding success is tempered by the continuing difficulty eradicating the virus worldwide. These new treatments are slowing the epidemic in some parts of the world, but the screening of subjects for treatment remains a difficult task. In other parts of the world and in specific populations, the epidemic is continuing to spread, via various modes of transmission, including unsafe medical procedures and intracommunity transmission in low-income countries, and principally intravenous drug use in high-income countries. Modeling studies have shown that, globally, the number of subjects cured by DAAs only slightly exceeds the number of new infections. Eradication thus remains a distant goal. Moreover, DAAs eliminate the virus efficiently, but they cannot prevent reinfection in subjects with persistent risk factors. More importantly, they do not completely eliminate the risk of a residual fibrotic process and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. For all these reasons, the development of a prophylactic vaccine against hepatitis C remains a necessity. Modeling studies have shown that such a vaccine, even if only partially protective, would reduce the epidemic in the highly exposed drug-user population. If used in combination with the hepatitis B vaccine, it could contribute to WHO global viral hepatitis control plan. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.OBJECTIVE Parental accommodation contributes to the maintenance of child anxiety and related symptoms. The current study examines the contributions of parent and child factors to parental accommodation in a sample of anxious youth. learn more METHODS Sixty-four treatment-seeking youth (6-16 years) and their mothers, as well as a subset of fathers (N = 41) reported on parental accommodation, parental distress and emotion regulation, child psychopathology, child externalizing behaviors, and child intolerance of uncertainty. RESULTS Parental accommodation was not related to parental distress or emotion regulation. Parents who viewed their child as being more symptomatic (e.g., anxious, externalizing, and intolerant of uncertainty) were more likely to engage in accommodation. For mothers, child anxiety and externalizing symptoms were notable predictors of accommodation. CONCLUSIONS Parent perceptions of child symptomology is an important factor significantly related to accommodation behaviors. This finding can be used to inform programming designed to target parental responses to child anxiety and related disorders. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.As part of an effort to develop avian ecotoxicity information for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) associated with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) used by the Department of Defense, the subacute toxicity of PFOS, PFOA, PFOS + PFOA, 3M AFFF and Ansul AFFF to Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) chicks was determined. Ten-day-old Japanese quail were administered treated feed for 5 d and then fed untreated feed for 18 d. Analyzed concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and PFOS + PFOA ranged from 62 to 1955, 162 to 1208 and 43 + 45 to 296 + 292 mg kg feed-1 . Analyzed concentrations of PFOS in feed containing the 3M AFFF ranged from 73 to 1399 mg kg feed-1 and formulated concentrations of 62 fluorotelomer thioamido sulfonate in feed containing the Ansul AFFF ranged from 9 to 1118 mg kg feed-1 . Average daily doses resulting in 50% mortality at d 5 were 38 (34-43), 68 (63-74), 55 (51-59) and 130 (103-164) mg PFOS, PFOA, PFOS + PFOA and PFOS in 3M AFFF kg body weight-1 day-1 . Ansul AFFF did not result in any mortalities. Dietary concentrations resulting in 50% mortality at d 5 were 351 (275-450), 496 (427-575), 398 (339-468) and 467 (390-559) mg PFOS, PFOA, PFOS + PFOA and PFOS in 3M AFFF kg feed-1 . This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.AIMS The peritoneal regression grading score (PRGS) and peritoneal cytology (PC) assess response to chemotherapy in peritoneal metastasis (PM) in a setting of palliative treatment by pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC). Progression has been defined as an increase of PRGS between first and third PIPAC procedures, but failed as positive peritoneal cytology to demonstrate their prognostic impact. These results may be explained by a lack of statistical power. And, it is not known whether the mean or the highest PRGS among taken peritoneal biopsies bears the highest clinical value. We therefore conducted the largest prospective study to investigate the prognostic impact of iPGRS, PC, and their combination, designated as combined progression index (CPI). METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with PM who underwent >3 PIPAC (n=112) between December 2016 and February 2019 were prospectively included. A significant difference in OS and PFS according to CPI(highest) was found (OSCPI-, 83.3, 95%CI[49.8;NA] vs. CPI+, 48.1, 95%CI[38.5;66.4] months; and PFS (respectively, 59.7, 95%CI[43.0;96.0] vs. 33.7, 95%CI[30.4;44.2] months). PRGS or PC had no independent prognostic impact. CPI+ was an independent predictor of worse prognosis, in OS (HR=5.24, 95%CI [2.07; 13.26]), and PFS (HR=4.41, 95%CI [1.40;13.88]). CONCLUSIONS The CPI based on highest PRGS and PC was found to be independently associated with worse prognosis for OS and for PFS in the setting of peritoneal metastasis. These results indicate that it should be of interest to take systematically peritoneal fluid for cytological examination and to implement the CPI in the therapeutic decision-making process in the context of PIPAC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1)/Smad3 pathway promotes the pathological progression of subchondral bone in osteoarthritis. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the pathological progression and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway of subchondral bone in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Rabbit TMJOA model was established by type II collagenase induction. The left joint in this model was continuously stimulated with LIPUS for 3 and 6 weeks (1 MHz; 30 mW/cm2 ) for 20 min/day. The morphological and histological features of subchondral bone were respectively examined by microcomputed tomography and Safranin-O staining. The number of osteoclasts was quantitatively assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were conducted to evaluate the protein expression of Cathepsin K and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway. The results indicated that LIPUS could improve the trabecular microstructure and histological characteristics of subchondral bone in rabbit TMJOA. It also suppressed abnormal subchondral bone resorption and activation of TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway, characterized by the number of osteoclasts, protein expression levels of Cathepsin K, TGF-β1, type II TGFβ receptor, and phosphorylated Smad3 (pSmad3) were decreased. In conclusion, LIPUS promoted the quality of subchondral bone by suppressing osteoclast activity and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway in rabbit TMJOA. © 2020 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.AIMS To systematically review the literature addressing the following focused questions "What is the efficacy of either (#1) alternative or (#2) additional methods to professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) on progression of attachment loss during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) in periodontitis patients?". METHODS A systematic search for randomized clinical trials was performed. Change in clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline was the primary outcome. RESULTS Routine PMPR performed with either a combination of ultrasonic/hand instruments or ErYag laser showed similarly effective in preventing CAL loss. Moreover, a routine SPT regimen based on PMPR led to stability of CAL irrespective of a daily sub-antimicrobial doxycycline dose (SDD). Finally, an adjunctive photodynamic therapy (PDT) did not enhance the magnitude of CAL gain when sites with probing depth≥ 4 mm were repeatedly treated. After pooling all data, the results of the meta-analysis showed no statistical differences in CAL change from baseline mean overall CAL change was -0.233 mm (95% confidence interval -1.065, 0.598; p=0.351). CONCLUSIONS Weak evidence indicate that in treated periodontitis patients enrolled in a 3-4 month SPT based on PMPR, ErYag laser (as alternative), SDD and PDT (as additional) do not produce a greater clinical effect on periodontal conditions compared to PMPR. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.