Gastrointestinal disease is prevalent and broad, manifesting itself in a variety of ways, including inflammation, fibrosis, infection, and cancer. However, historically, diagnostic technologies have exhibited limitations, especially with regard to diagnostic uncertainty. Despite development of newly emerging technologies such as optoacoustic imaging, many recent advancements have focused on improving upon pre-existing modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopy. These advancements include utilization of machine learning models, biomarkers, new technological applications such as diffusion weighted imaging, and new techniques such as transrectal ultrasound. This review discusses assessment of disease processes using imaging strategies for the detection and monitoring of inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer in the context of gastrointestinal disease. Specifically, we include ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, celiac disease, graft vs. host disease, intestinal fibrosis, colorectal stricture, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer. We address some of the most recent and promising advancements for improvement of gastrointestinal imaging, including unique discussions of such advancements with regard to imaging of fibrosis and differentiation between similar disease processes.

The flow diverting stent (FDS) has become a promising endovascular device for the treatment of aneurysms. This research presents a novel biodegradable and non-braided Polycaprolactone (PCL) FDS. The PCL FDS was designed and developed using an in-house fabrication unit and coated on two ends with BaSO₄ for angiographic visibility. The mechanical flexibility and quality of FDS surfaces were examined with the UniVert testing machine, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and 3D profilometer. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion, proliferation, and cell morphology studies on PCL FDS were performed. The cytotoxicity and NO production by HUVECs with PCL FDS were also conducted. The longitudinal tensile, radial, and bending flexibility were found to be 1.20 ± 0.19 N/mm, 0.56 ± 0.11 N/mm, and 0.34 ± 0.03 N/mm, respectively. The FDS was returned to the original shape and diameter after repeated compression and bending without compromising mechanical integrity. Results also showed that the proliferation and adhesion of HUVECs on the FDS surface increased over time compared to control without FDS. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and NO production showed that PCL FDS were non-toxic and satisfactory. Cell morphology studies showed that HUVECs were elongated to cover the FD surface and developed an endothelial monolayer. This study is a step forward toward the development and clinical use of biodegradable flow diverting stents for endovascular treatment of the aneurysm.

The global obesity epidemic, with its associated comorbidities and increased risk of early mortality, underscores the urgent need for enhancing our understanding of the origins of this complex disease. It is increasingly clear that metabolism is programmed early in life and that metabolic programming can have life-long health consequences. As a critical metabolic organ sensitive to early-life stimuli, proper development of adipose tissue (AT) is crucial for life-long energy homeostasis. Early-life nutrients, especially fatty acids (FAs), significantly influence the programming of AT and shape its function and metabolism. Of growing interest are the dynamic responses during pre- and postnatal development to proinflammatory omega-6 ( n6) and anti-inflammatory omega-3 ( n3) FA exposures in AT. In the US maternal diet, the ratio of “ pro-inflammatory” n6- to “ anti-inflammatory” n3-FAs has grown dramatically due to the greater prevalence of n6-FAs. Notably, AT macrophages (ATMs) form a significant population within adipose stromal cells, playing not only an instrumental role in AT formation and maintenance but also acting as key mediators of cell-to-cell lipid and cytokine signaling. Despite rapid advances in ATM and immunometabolism fields, research has focused on responses to obesogenic diets and during adulthood. Consequently, there is a significant gap in identifying the mechanisms contributing metabolic health, especially regarding lipid exposures during the establishment of ATM physiology. Our review highlights the current understanding of ATM diversity, their critical role in AT, their potential role in early-life metabolic programming, and the broader implications for metabolism and health.

Developmental exposure to an elevated ratio of omega-6 (n6) to omega-3 (n3) fatty acids (FA) is linked to increased infant body fat and risk of future childhood obesity. We demonstrated in mice that the high n6/n3 developmental exposure reduced nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 2 (NR2F2) in Adipocyte Stem Cells (ASCs), coincident with an altered ASC mitochondrial expression profile and increased white adipose accumulation in pups. This suggested that NR2F2-low ASCs might adopt a nutrient-storage phenotype. Here, we tested the hypothesis that NR2F2 is required in ASCs to undergo beige adipogenesis and metabolism needed during postnatal life for energy and thermogenesis. C57BL/6J dams were randomized to either n6-rich or balanced n6/n3 control diets at the time of mating and underwent normal gestation and parturition. On postnatal day 12 (PND12), whole-body offspring metabolism was quantified by indirect calorimetry in conjunction with ¹³C-palmitate and ¹³C-glucose tracing. Inguinal fat pad ASCs were isolated by flow cytometry to assess adipocyte differentiation potential, global gene expression and proteomics, and mitochondrial oxidation. NR2F2 was transiently re-activated in vitro in ASCs with its ligand, 1-deoxysphingosine (1-DSO), and NR2F2 was ablated in ASCs ex vivo using homozygous floxed Nr2f2 pups to determine loss of function, ensure specificity of 1-DSO treatment during gain of function. Excess developmental n6-FA exposure reduced whole-body ¹³C-palmitate and ¹³C-glucose oxidation, diminished PND12 pup energy expenditure, and increased triacylglyceride accumulation in inguinal adipose. In ASCs isolated from n6-FA exposed pups, NR2F2 was decreased. These NR2F2-low ASCs formed downstream adipocytes with decreased beige metabolic regulators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16), and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), had lower glycolysis and lipid metabolism enzymes, oxidized lipid and glucose at lower rates, and had increased lipogenic enzymes. Ex vivo deletion of Nr2f2 from ASCs recapitulated the metabolic deficits observed in the adipocytes derived from NR2F2-low ASCs isolated from n6-FA exposed pups. NR2F2 loss disrupted beige regulator induction, reduced adipocyte FAO, and promoted lipogenesis pathways, mirroring the n6-FA phenotype. Transient NR2F2 activation of ASCs from n6-FA pups using 1-DSO restored induction of beige regulators, increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation enzymes, reduced lipogenic/storage pathways, ultimately enhancing nutrient oxidation. These findings demonstrate that excess n6-FA developmental exposure disrupts NR2F2-mediated ASC fate determination, leading to formation of nutrient-storing, lipogenic adipocytes. This work highlights NR2F2 as an important upstream or parallel regulator necessary for beige adipogenesis and underscores its activation as a potential therapeutic approach to mitigate early-life obesity risk. GSE284936; Token = orkvgqayblshjsds.

BACKGROUND: Congenital müllerian anomalies are found in 8.0% of women with infertility and up to 5.5% of women in a general population. Cervical diverticulum is a type of cervical malformation that can be congenital or acquired, with only select cases documented in the literature. Cervical diverticulum can be asymptomatic or present with abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pain, or infertility. Previously described management options are largely limited to observation or exploratory laparotomy. CASE: A 35-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 2, presented with persistent menorrhagia, pelvic pain, and abdominal bloating and was found to have an 8-cm right adnexal mass on pelvic ultrasonography. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a hemorrhagic cervical mass communicating with the uterine cavity. The mass was resected laparoscopically, and pathology revealed fibromuscular tissue with endocervical epithelium consistent with a cervical diverticulum. CONCLUSION: Isolated cervical diverticula are rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. Laparoscopic surgery is a safe, minimally invasive approach for evaluation and repair of cervical diverticula.

Due to the growing obesity pandemic, almost one third of all children are born to mothers with obesity; however, the impact of maternal obesity on polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is unknown. In this manuscript, we found that maternal obesity did not worsen PKD severity in Pkd1^RC/RC mice at 3 mo or 1 yr of age when weaned onto normal chow diet. However, rechallenging pups born to obese mothers worsened PKD severity in female but not male mice.