Search Results (896)

Neovascular diseases, such as neovascular ophthalmopathy, atherosclerosis, and tumors, are characterized by pathological angiogenesis, leading to the formation of leaky, tortuous, and immature blood vessels, often accompanied by chronic inflammation and tissue damage. Among the multiple drivers of angiogenesis in these conditions, the role of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has garnered increasing attention. Formed from low-density lipoprotein (LDL) under oxidative stress, oxLDL acts as a cross-organ biomarker that systemically impacts multiple organs via the circulatory system, exerting a pivotal pro-angiogenic effect. This review focuses on elucidating the common molecular mechanisms by which oxLDL and its downstream lipid peroxidation products accumulate in disease-specific microenvironments. This accumulation activates inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways in macrophages and endothelial cells, modulating their functional reprogramming and thereby driving pathological neovascularization. Our aim is to provide an integrated framework for understanding the complex role of oxLDL as a cross-organ biomarker in multisystem neovascular diseases and to offer a theoretical basis for its potential as a therapeutic target. Full article

Digital technologies have improved the visualization of anatomical structures for veterinary education and clinical practice. In this study, a detailed three-dimensional anatomical model of the equine palmar metacarpal region was generated using E12-based epoxy sheet plastination combined with digital reconstruction in Amira^® V5.6 software. Serial cross-sections of the metacarpal region provided high-resolution visualization of bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, vessels, fasciae, and synovial structures, with minimal shrinkage or deformation, ensuring improved anatomical accuracy. These sections were digitized, aligned, and manually segmented to accurately delineate anatomical boundaries, particularly in areas of low contrast. The resulting three-dimensional model represents the topographical relationships of key structures, including palmar nerves and vessels, the palmar fascia with the metacarpal flexor retinaculum (MFR), and the common synovial sheath (Vag. synovialis communis mm. flexorum, CSS). The model allows rotation and selective visualization of individual structures, facilitating examination from multiple perspectives. This combined plastination–digital approach provides an accurate anatomical reference with value for veterinary anatomy education, clinical training, surgical planning, and research on equine musculoskeletal disorders. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: SLIPPERS syndrome (Supratentorial Lymphocytic Inflammation with Parenchymal Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids) was first described in 2015 as a variant of CLIPPERS restricted to supratentorial regions. Only a few cases have been reported so far, and its distinction from primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) remains challenging, as both may present with overlapping clinical, radiological, and histopathological features. We report two patients initially diagnosed with SLIPPERS but finally fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for PACNS, highlighting the complexity of the differential diagnosis. Case Presentation: The first patient was a 49-year-old woman who presented with seizures, memory impairment, and facial neuralgia. MRI showed multiple cortico-subcortical and deep nodular lesions in the left hemisphere with gadolinium enhancement. Brain biopsy revealed a T-cell-predominant lymphocytic vascular infiltrate. She responded to corticosteroids but later relapsed, requiring methotrexate for long-term immunosuppression, with no further recurrences during seven years of follow-up. The second patient was a 64-year-old man with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and alcohol use who developed repeated focal-to-generalized seizures. MRI disclosed multifocal nodular gadolinium-enhancing right hemispheric lesions, with SWI microhemorrhages. Biopsy demonstrated transmural T-cell vasculitic infiltrates. He responded to corticosteroids and methotrexate, but radiological progression at 14 months prompted replacement with cyclophosphamide. Conclusions: There is a considerable clinical, radiological, and histological overlap between SLIPPERS and PACNS. Careful analysis of advanced MRI sequences, particularly angiographic and vessel-wall imaging studies, combined with meticulous histopathological analysis, is essential to avoid misdiagnosis. These similarities suggest that some cases attributed to SLIPPERS may, in fact, correspond to variants of PACNS. Full article

Micropropagation is particularly relevant to A. xanthorrhiza because this crop is traditionally propagated by crown buds, with very low field multiplication rates and a high incidence of systemic pathogens, whereas in vitro culture enables rapid clonal multiplication, sanitation, and long-term conservation of elite and regional genotypes. Micropropagation of A. xanthorrhiza remains hindered by physiological disorders such as hyperhydricity and low shoot proliferation, often associated with limited gas exchange and inadequate culture systems. This study evaluated the effects of different gas exchange regimes and liquid culture methods on in vitro morphogenetic and structural responses. Forced ventilation at 81.3 gas exchanges per day reduced hyperhydricity to 8.3%, while sealed vessels exhibited a hyperhydricity rate of 65.8%. RITA^® bioreactors resulted in the highest shoot multiplication rate (6.5/explant), which is a 48.2% increase over semi-solid medium (4.4 shoots/explant). Additionally, RITA^® systems enhanced leaf expansion, reduced oxidative symptoms, and improved shoot morphology. These findings demonstrate that combining ventilation and immersion control is a promising strategy to improve micropropagation efficiency in A. xanthorrhiza, providing quantitative evidence that complements and extends prior qualitative studies on in vitro ventilation and liquid culture systems. Full article

This paper presents the results of research on an innovative, integrated IACMS (Intelligent Integrated Automation, Control, and Monitoring System), developed for energy-efficient operation of auxiliary machinery in ship engine rooms. The system, validated both in the laboratory and during full-scale operation on the MF Skania Ro-Pax ferry, integrates process monitoring, diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and intelligent energy optimization within a unified control architecture. This approach enables a significant reduction in electricity consumption while maintaining thermal safety and operational reliability. Laboratory tests focused on a pump cooling system with PLC and frequency converter control, achieving a 90.5% reduction in energy consumption compared to conventional constant-speed operation. During full-scale validation, the IACMS managed the seawater pump via adaptive frequency control (30–60 Hz). Two consecutive voyages demonstrated energy savings of 84.6% and 86.0%, with a daily energy reduction of 0.84 MWh, resulting in a decrease of approximately 0.5 tons of CO₂ emissions per day. Additionally, an observed reduction of about 6–7% in daily generator-set energy was recorded during the analyzed period; this vessel-level value is indicative, as the generator supplies multiple onboard consumers. All trials confirmed stable cooling system temperatures, and comprehensive diagnostics revealed no negative impact of inverter control on the technical condition of equipment. The findings indicate that IACMS is a universal and scalable tool for improving energy efficiency and enabling predictive maintenance in ship engine room auxiliary systems. The system was positively validated in commercial operation and certified by the Polish Register of Shipping, confirming its technological maturity and readiness for widespread adoption in the maritime industry. The results pave the way for further deployments of intelligent energy management solutions in shipping, supporting maritime decarbonization goals. Full article

The growing demand for floating offshore structures calls for lightweight, impact-resilient, and sustainable design approaches. This study explores the optimization of composite fibree layup in a 30 m hull subjected to slamming-type hydrodynamic loads. Although based on a recreational vessel, the model serves as a transferable case for offshore applications such as wave energy devices, offshore wind platforms, and floating PV systems. A finite element method (FEM) model was developed using shell elements and a sinusoidal time-dependent pressure to simulate slamming events on the wet surface of the hull. The response was evaluated under different fiber orientation schemes, aiming to reduce structural mass while maintaining stress levels within safety margins. Results showed that strategic layup optimization led to a measurable reduction in total material usage, without compromising structural integrity. These outcomes suggest multiple advantages, including an approximately 14% reduction in raw material demand, which in turn facilitates for potential downsizing of propulsion systems and transportation energy due to lighter structures. Such improvements contribute indirectly to reduced emissions and operational costs. The methodology presented offers a replicable approach to composite optimization under transient marine loads, with relevance for sustainable offshore structural design. Full article

The construction cost of offshore wind farms (OWFs) is heavily influenced by vessel scheduling and meteorological uncertainties. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a constraint-driven hierarchical optimization framework for the coordinated scheduling of installation vessels (IVs) and transport vessels (TVs). First, a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is established to describe the operational constraints, which is then decomposed into two interrelated sub-problems: vessel path planning and scheduling optimization. For path planning, the problem is modeled as a Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem (MTSP) to ensure balanced fleet workloads. This stage is solved via a tailored three-stage heuristic combining balanced sweep clustering and penalized local search. For scheduling optimization, a hybrid Earliest Deadline First (EDF)-Simulated Annealing (SA) strategy is employed, where EDF generates a strictly feasible baseline to warm-start the SA optimization. Furthermore, a stochastic optimization approach integrates historical meteorological data to ensure schedule robustness against weather uncertainty. The validity of the framework is supported by two real-world OWF cases, which demonstrate total cost reductions of 15.44% and 13.20%, respectively, under stochastic weather conditions. These results demonstrate its effectiveness in solving high-constraint offshore engineering problems. Full article

Intestinal emphysema is a rare pathological condition observed in humans and animals, characterized by the presence of multiple gas-filled cysts within the intestinal wall. In pigs, it is occasionally observed at slaughter, without affecting carcass suitability for human consumption or impairing farm profitability. Despite investigations, the etiology and pathogenesis of intestinal emphysema remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to provide further morphological insights into porcine intestinal emphysema through histopathological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. A total of ten slaughtered heavy pigs were examined, showing gross lesions consistent with intestinal emphysema. Gaseous cysts were predominantly located in the submucosal and mesenteric layers, at least partially lined by lymphatic endothelial cells. The cysts were separated by fibrous connective septa and were almost invariably associated with granulomas, consisting of epithelioid macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. Overall, the immunohistochemical patterns of porcine intestinal emphysema overlap with those described in humans and support the hypothesis that lesions likely originate within the lymphatic vessels. Full article

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease in which malfunctioning immune cells lead to the formation of autoantibodies that damage blood vessels and body tissues. Fibrosis then develops in the affected organs. Its complex pathogenesis involves multiple immune and stromal cell types, soluble mediators, and dysregulated tissue repair, resulting in heterogeneous clinical manifestations and poor prognosis. Current disease-modifying therapies provide only modest benefits, often slowing but rarely reversing disease progression, and are associated with considerable adverse effects. These limitations have spurred the development of cell-based therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring immune tolerance and promoting tissue repair. In this review, we summarize recent advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, mesenchymal stem cell therapy, and adoptive regulatory T cell transfer and highlight the emerging role of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy as a transformative approach for SSc. Collectively, these evolving strategies hold the potential to improve survival, achieve durable remissions, and significantly enhance quality of life for patients with SSc. Full article

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and accurate coronary artery segmentation in X-ray coronary angiography (XCA) is challenged by low contrast, structural ambiguity, and anisotropic vessel trajectories, which hinder quantitative coronary angiography. We propose HR-UMamba++, a U-Mamba-based framework centered on a rotation-aligned multi-directional state-space scan for modeling long-range vessel continuity across multiple orientations. To preserve thin distal branches, the framework is equipped with (i) a persistent high-resolution bypass that injects undownsampled structural details and (ii) a UNet++-style dense decoder topology for cross-scale topological fusion. On an in-house dataset of 739 XCA images from 374 patients, HR-UMamba++ is evaluated using eight segmentation metrics, fractal-geometry descriptors, and multi-view expert scoring. Compared with U-Net, Attention U-Net, HRNet, U-Mamba, DeepLabv3+, and YOLO11-seg, HR-UMamba++ achieves the best performance (Dice 0.8706, IoU 0.7794, HD95 16.99), yielding a relative Dice improvement of 6.0% over U-Mamba and reducing the deviation in fractal dimension by up to 57% relative to U-Net. Expert evaluation across eight angiographic views yields a mean score of 4.24 ± 0.49/5 with high inter-rater agreement. These results indicate that HR-UMamba++ produces anatomically faithful coronary trees and clinically useful segmentations that can serve as robust structural priors for downstream quantitative coronary analysis. Full article

(1) Cancer has been shown to contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, while inflammatory aspects of atherosclerosis can exert profound effects on cancer development and outcomes. TA-MUC1 (Tumour-associated Mucin 1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is overexpressed in many human epithelial cancers lining the intestine. Interestingly, the lack of intestinal MUC1 has been shown to impair cholesterol uptake in MUC1^−/− mice. (2) To investigate whether TA-MUC1 could have specific effects on cholesterol metabolism and, thereby, have the potential of impacting the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in cancer patients. (3) The effect of TA-MUC1 on cholesterol and lipid metabolism was assayed using MUC1 gene knock down breast cancer cells. An in vitro coculturing model similar to in vivo biological conditions was used to determine that TA-MUC1 could also modulate the cholesterol metabolism of other cells. (4) Reduction or inhibition of TA-MUC1 activity resulted in a significant alteration in a number of the signalling pathways and proteins that are relevant to abnormal cholesterol metabolism (p < 0.0001). Coculturing of TA-MUC1 cancer cells with THP-1 cells also notably effectively induced monocytic THP-1 cell differentiation towards foam cells—foam cells being a characteristic feature of atherosclerotic blood vessels. (5) Previously, we found TA-MUC1 downregulation led to a reduction in procoagulant and prothrombotic properties of the cancer cells as well as modulation of the aberrant calcium signalling pathways of cancer cells. Taken together with these current results, this suggests that TA-MUC1 in cancer cells has multiple effects on cholesterol and lipid metabolism, which also impacts other cells in the cellular bioenvironment. TA-MUC1 could thereby act as an important pathogenic effector of atherosclerosis in cancer. These results can also be considered in respect of the therapeutic anti-MUC1 antibody, which was able to reduce the effect of TA-MUC1 on cholesterol metabolism. Modulation of cholesterol metabolism via targeting TA-MUC1 could, therefore, be of great benefit to cancer patients with atherosclerosis. Full article

Although there have been advancements in stroke treatment (reperfusion) therapy, and it has been shown that many individuals continue to suffer from partial recoveries and continuing decline in their neurological status as a result of suffering a stroke, a primary barrier to providing precise care to patients with stroke continues to be the inability to capture changes in molecular and cellular programs over time and in biological compartments. This review synthesizes evidence that represents the entire continuum of ischemia, beginning with acute metabolic failure and excitotoxicity, and ending with immune response in the nervous system, reprogramming of glial cells, remodeling of vessels, and plasticity at the level of networks, and organizes this evidence in a temporal framework that includes three biological compartments:central nervous system tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and peripheral blood. Additionally, this review discusses new technologies which enable researchers to discover biomarkers at an extremely high resolution, including single-cell and spatial multi-omics, profiling of extracellular vesicles, proteoform-resolved proteomics, and glymphatic imaging, as well as new computational methods and machine-learning algorithms to integrate data from multiple modalities and predict trajectories of disease progression. The final section of this review will provide an overview of translationally relevant and ethically relevant issues regarding the deployment of predictive biomarkers, such as privacy, access, equity, and fairness, and emphasize the importance of global coordination of research efforts in order to ensure the clinical applicability and global equity of biomarker-based diagnostics and treatments. Full article

In the dynamic marine environment, the high mobility of intrusion targets, complex interference, and insufficient multi-vessel coordination accuracy pose significant challenges to the cooperative interception mission of multiple unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). This paper proposes an adaptive dynamic prediction-based cooperative interception control algorithm and establishes a “mission planning—anti-interference control—phased coordination” system. Specifically, it ensures interception accuracy through threat-level-oriented target assignment and extended Kalman filter multi-step prediction, offsets environmental interference by separating the cooperative encirclement and anti-interference modules using an improved Two-stage architecture, and optimizes the movement of nodes to form a stable blockade through the “target navigation—cooperative encirclement” strategy. Simulation results show that in a 1000 m × 1000 m mission area, the node trajectory deviation is reduced by 40% and the heading angle fluctuation is decreased by 50, compared with the limit cycle encirclement algorithm, the average interception time is shortened by 15% and the average final distance between the intrusion target and the guarded target is increased by 20%, when the target attempts to escape, the relevant collision rates are all below 0.3%. The TFMUSV framework ensures the stable optimization of the algorithm and significantly improves the efficiency and reliability of multi-USV cooperative interception in complex scenarios. This paper provides a highly adaptable technical solution for practical tasks such as maritime security and anti-smuggling. Full article

In recent years, the design priorities of modern marine propellers have shifted from maximizing efficiency to minimizing vibration-induced noise emissions and improving structural durability. However, an optimized design does not necessarily ensure optimal performance across the full operational range of a vessel. Due to operational constraints such as reduced docking times and regional speed regulations, propellers frequently operate off-design. This deviation from the design point leads to periodic turbulent boundary layer separation on the propeller blades, resulting in increased unsteady pressure fluctuations and, consequently, elevated hydroacoustic noise emissions. To mitigate these effects, bio-inspired modifications have been investigated as a means of improving flow characteristics and reducing pressure fluctuations. Tubercles, characteristic protrusions along the leading edge of humpback whale fins, have been shown to enhance lift characteristics beyond the stall angle by modifying the flow separation pattern. However, their influence on transient pressure fluctuations and the associated hydroacoustic behavior of marine propellers remains insufficiently explored. In this study, we apply the concept of tubercles to the blades of a hubless propeller, also referred to as a rim-drive propeller. We analyze the pressure fluctuations on the blades and in the wake by comparing conventional propeller blades with those featuring tubercles. The flow fields of both reference and tubercle-modified blades were simulated using the Stress Blended Eddy Simulation (SBES) turbulence model to highlight differences in the flow field. In both configurations, multiple helix-shaped vortex systems form in the propeller wake, but their decay characteristics vary, with the vortex structures collapsing at different distances from the propeller center. Additionally, Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) analysis was employed to isolate and analyze the periodic, coherent flow structures in each case. Previous studies on the flow field of hubless propellers have demonstrated a direct correlation between transient pressure fluctuations in the flow field and the resulting noise emissions. It was demonstrated that the tubercle modification significantly reduces pressure fluctuations both on the propeller blades and in the wake flow. In the analyzed case, a reduction in pressure fluctuations by a factor of three to ten for the different BPF orders was observed within the wake flow. Full article

Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have emerged as an alternative to drug-eluting stents (DESs) in percutaneous coronary intervention, delivering antiproliferative drugs without leaving a permanent implant. This review provides a comparative analysis of sirolimus-coated DCBs (DCB-S), paclitaxel-coated DCBs (DCB-P), and DESs across key scenarios: de novo coronary lesions in chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and in-stent restenosis (ISR). We discuss late lumen loss (LLL), target lesion/vessel revascularization (TLR/TVR), vessel patency, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) outcomes, along with current guidelines and emerging indications for DCB-S. We also examine pharmacological differences between sirolimus and paclitaxel (mechanisms of action, tissue uptake, and healing profiles), trial methodologies, and recent innovations in DCB technology. Across stable de novo lesions (especially small vessels and high bleeding-risk patients), multiple trials show DCB-P can achieve non-inferior clinical outcomes to DES. Early data suggest newer DCB-S may likewise match DES outcomes in broader populations. In ACS, DCB-only strategies have demonstrated feasibility and safety in carefully selected lesions without heavy thrombus, with randomized studies like REVELATION (STEMI) showing non-inferior fractional flow reserve and low revascularization rates compared to DES. For ISR, DCB-P is an established Class I treatment in both BMS-ISR and DES-ISR, yielding similar or lower TLR rates than repeat stenting. DCB-S are now being evaluated as an alternative in ISR, aiming to avoid additional stent layers. Contemporary guidelines endorse DCB use in ISR and small vessels, and experts anticipate expanding indications as evidence grows. Sirolimus and paclitaxel differ in antiproliferative mechanisms and pharmacokinetics—sirolimus (cytostatic, mTOR inhibition) may offer faster endothelial recovery, whereas paclitaxel’s high lipophilicity ensures sustained arterial wall retention. Technological advances (e.g., phospholipid micro-reservoirs for sirolimus) are enhancing drug transfer and addressing prior limitations. In summary, DCB-P and DCB-S now represent viable alternatives to DES in specific scenarios, especially where “leaving nothing behind” could reduce long-term complications. Ongoing large randomized trials, such as SELUTION DeNovo, currently available as conference-presented data, together with longer-term follow-up will further clarify the optimal niches for DCB-S versus DCB-P and DES. Full article