Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and carotid artery plaque (CAP) are both linked to circulatory lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. However, the shared lipidome-wide mechanisms underlying these diseases remain unexplored. To identify plasma lipid species associated with both MAFLD and CAP to uncover their shared metabolic pathways. We analyzed data from the Young Finns Study cohort from the 2007 and 2018 follow-ups (n = 1496, aged 41-56 years, 56.3% females). Ultrasound was used to determine the prevalence of both CAP and MAFLD during the 2018 follow-up. The participants were categorized into three mutually exclusive groups: participants with CAP without MAFLD (n = 257), participants with MAFLD without CAP (n = 150), and a control group free from both diseases (n = 436). Lipidomic profiling of 437 lipid species from plasma was performed during the 2007 follow-up (aged 30-45 years) via liquid chromatography‒tandem mass spectrometry. Logistic regression models, both unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking, were used to assess lipid associations with both disease outcomes separately. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for each lipid species, and multiple testing corrections were performed via the false discovery rate (FDR) method (< 0.05). Additionally, we performed a hypergeometric enrichment analysis to determine whether certain lipid classes appear more often than expected among the lipids associated with disease. In the unadjusted models, there were a total of 51 significant (FDR < 0.05) overlapping lipids between the CAP and MAFLD groups. In the adjusted models, four lipids were significantly associated with CAP, and 202 lipids were significantly associated with MAFLD. Notably, only one lipid-phosphatidylcholine (PC) 40:4-was significantly associated with both diseases. PC 40:4 was associated with an increased risk of CAP (OR 2.59; 95% CI, 1.57-4.32) and MAFLD (OR 5.26; 95% CI, 2.81-9.85). Our findings highlight PC 40:4 as a novel shared lipid signature for both MAFLD and CAP. This dual association suggests that overlapping metabolic disturbances and potentially common lipid-based pathogenic mechanisms link liver and vascular health. PC 40:4 may serve as a promising early biomarker or therapeutic target for metabolic-vascular comorbidities.

Objective Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a prevalent chronic liver disease for which lifestyle intervention remains the first-line treatment. However, reliable biomarkers that reflect treatment responsiveness are limited. MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) is a liver-specific microRNA involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and injury. However, its clinical significance during lifestyle intervention has not yet been fully elucidated. Methods This single-center retrospective study enrolled 144 patients with SLD who underwent a 6-day inpatient individualized diet and exercise program. The serum miR-122 levels were measured at baseline and on Day 4 of hospitalization. The primary endpoint was defined as ≥10% improvement in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors independently associated with ALT improvement. Results The liver function and metabolic parameters improved significantly at 6 months. The median ALT improvement rate was 13.4%. An exploratory receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that baseline miR-122 moderately discriminated against ALT improvement ≥10% (area under the curve [AUC] 0.663, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.572-0.753). In a multivariate analysis, the baseline miR-122 was independently associated with ALT improvement after adjusting for age, sex, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and baseline ALT. Early changes in miR-122 on Day 4 were not independently associated with the 6-month outcomes. Conclusion Individualized dietary and exercise therapy based on a multifaceted approach is effective for SLD. The baseline serum miR-122 levels were associated with a biochemical ALT improvement following lifestyle intervention in patients with SLD. Circulating miR-122 may serve as a response-associated biomarker reflecting the biochemical responsiveness to lifestyle intervention.

This study presents, for the first time, an integrated analytical strategy combining a rotating paper disc (RPD) microextraction device with in-injector micro-reaction (IIMR) for the determination of seven non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in postmortem biological matrices. The proposed approach employs a cellulose-based sorptive phase impregnated with octanol, enabling efficient and low-cost extraction through enhanced amphiphilic. The design of RPD device promotes efficient mass transfer and facilitates direct immersion into complex matrices such as liver, blood, and urine, allowing rapid and effective analyte uptake without the need for complex sorbent synthesis or extensive sample handling. The IIMR concept represents an on-line, instrument-mediated and non-discrete transformation that occurs directly within the GC injection port during sample introduction, thereby eliminating any additional derivatization step. This embedded micro-reaction proceeds instantaneously under injector conditions (within seconds), requires no external heating or reaction time, and consumes ultra-low volumes of reagent (1 μL), significantly improving analytical throughput and reducing chemical usage compared to conventional derivatization protocols. Under optimized conditions, the method exhibited satisfactory linearity (0.1-10 μg mL-1 or μg g-1), good accuracy (86.8-101.1%), low limits of quantification (0.033-0.099 μg mL-1 or μg g-1), and excellent precision (1.8-10.7%). The overall analytical workflow demonstrated strong alignment with green and white analytical chemistry principles, as confirmed by AGSA (70.83) and BAGI (70) scores. The method was successfully applied to real postmortem liver, urine, and blood samples, highlighting its robustness, operational simplicity, and suitability for routine forensic toxicology applications.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a progressive condition linked to obesity and insulin resistance, potentially leading to cirrhosis. While lifestyle intervention is a primary treatment, the molecular mechanisms driving the regression of advanced fibrosis remain poorly understood. We report a man in his 30 s with severe obesity (BMI 35.2 kg/m[2]) and advanced fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement [LSM] 18 kPa) who underwent a 12-month caloric restriction and resistance training program. He achieved 33.8% weight loss while preserving skeletal muscle, resulting in normalized liver enzymes and an 80.6% reduction in LSM. Comparative serum proteomic analysis revealed that the "Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation" pathway was the most significantly upregulated, contrasting with downregulated metabolic pathways. Detailed mapping confirmed increased expression of NETosis-essential proteins, including peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), neutrophil elastase (NE), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), alongside upstream signaling such as ROS, Akt/mTOR, and NADPH oxidase components. This case demonstrates that intensive lifestyle intervention can induce rapid regression of advanced fibrosis in MASLD. The transition from metabolic stress to NETosis activation indicates that neutrophil-mediated immune regulation may be a key driver in the systemic and hepatic remodeling process.

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are emerging as powerful near-infrared probes for deep-tissue imaging. While SWCNT samples involving multiple chiralities can be seen as a collection of spectrally resolved fluorophores, their multiplex imaging capabilities remain underexplored. This work presents a filter-resolved evaluation of DSPE-mPEG-coated CoMoCAT SWCNTs integrating optical characterization, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity studies in BALB/c mice. Band-pass filters centered at 1000, 1050, and 1100 nm are used to isolate emission from the dominant (6,5) species and coexisting (7,5) and (7,6) chiralities within the NIR-II window. Following intraperitoneal administration, longitudinal whole-body imaging (0.5-24 h) illustrates rapid systemic spread and preferential uptake in reticuloendothelial organs. Ex vivo organ analysis reveals a hierarchy of emission intensities (liver >> spleen >> lung > heart > kidney > brain > thymus) preserved across all three detection channels, suggesting a negligible influence of SWCNT chirality on biodistribution. Serum kinetics show monoexponential decay with an apparent elimination half-life of ∼2.69 h. In a 21-day toxicity study, treated animals maintain stable body mass and normal behavior, organ-level fluorescence returns to the baseline, and H&E sections of the liver, kidney, and lung reveal preserved architecture without inflammatory or fibrotic lesions. Collectively, this work defines an initial in vivo tolerability profile, safe dosing, and imaging conditions for DSPE-mPEG/CoMoCAT SWCNTs and demonstrates that filter-resolved NIR-II fluorescence can be exploited for multiplex tracking of nanotube probes in vivo, providing a foundation for future biosensing and image-guided therapeutic applications.

IGFBP4 is essential for adipogenesis and is highly expressed in adipocytes and osteoblasts of mice. However, its role in bovine adipogenesis, especially intramuscular adipogenesis, remains unknown. Here, we cloned the CDS of IGFBP4 from Qinchuan cattle and analyzed its protein structure and function. We measured its expression levels in various tissues. The CDS region of the bovine IGFBP4 gene was 777 bp long, encoding a protein of 259 amino acids. The in-silico analysis revealed sequence conservation of Bos mutus and Bos indicus, while variation was found in Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus sequences. The physical and chemical properties of the IGFBP4 protein exhibited an isoelectric point of 7.10 and a molecular mass of 27.89 kDa. The protein was predicted to be hydrophilic and lacked a transmembrane structure, with potential phosphorylation and glycosylation sites. Interaction analysis suggested associations with several other proteins. Regarding tissue expression, the mRNA level of the IGFBP4 gene was highest in the liver, lowest in muscle, and significantly higher in subcutaneous fat compared to intramuscular fat in Qinchuan beef cattle. These findings indicate a potential role of theIGFBP4 gene in regulating bovine adipogenesis and lipid metabolism. This study provides a foundation for exploring the underlying molecular mechanism of intramuscular fat deposition in cattle.

A 56-year-old man presented with weight loss, abdominal pain, and altered bowel habits. Computed tomography revealed an appendiceal mass with hepatic lesions and regional lymphadenopathy, suggestive of advanced appendiceal malignancy. Surgical exploration identified a mucin-producing appendiceal tumor with metastatic involvement of the mesentery, liver, and lymph nodes. Histopathological examination confirmed an invasive, moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix, without lymphovascular or perineural invasion. The mesenteric lesion showed malignant neoplastic cells consistent with metastatic appendiceal adenocarcinoma, infiltrating the surrounding tissue. The patient underwent surgical resection followed by systemic chemotherapy. During follow-up, clinical evolution was consistent with advanced metastatic disease requiring ongoing multidisciplinary management. This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of advanced appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma and emphasizes the importance of complete pathological characterization and coordinated oncologic care.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma typically presents late, most often with nonspecific symptoms such as weight loss, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Presentation with prolonged fever and weakness mimicking an infectious etiology is exceedingly rare. We report a case of a 54-year-old man with no known comorbidities who presented with persistent fever, cough, and weakness of 20 days' duration. Initial investigations suggested hepatic abscesses on ultrasonography. However, further evaluation with a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed a pancreatic uncinate process mass with multiple hepatic and skeletal metastases, suggestive of advanced pancreatic malignancy. Positron-emission tomography computed tomography confirmed the presence of a pancreatic mass with widespread metastatic lesions. Increased serum cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 and CA-125 levels also supported the diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of pancreatic carcinoma presenting atypically as fever with incidentally detected liver abscess-like lesions.