The aggregation behaviors of methylcellulose (MC) in aqueous solution were investigated using all-atom molecular dynamic simulations (MD). The interactions between MC chains and water molecules at different temperatures were investigated by a series of MD analyses, such as the solvent accessible surface area, number of hydrogen bonds, radial distribution functions and the interaction energies. Constant temperature simulations and heating simulations of MC aqueous solution were carried out in this work. In the simulations at three constant temperatures (25 °C, 50 °C and 75 °C), the aggregation behaviors of MC chains were affected by the temperature. In the heating simulation (25 °C ∼ 75 °C), temperature increases were accompanied by decreases in interactions between MC and water molecules, and by increases in interactions between MC chains, which led to the aggregation of MC chains. The degree of aggregation of MC chains increased with the rise of temperature. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. TBI causes permanent physical, cognitive, social, and functional impairments. Substance use and intoxication are established risk factors for TBI. Data are emerging that also suggest that brain injury might be a risk factor for substance use. Methamphetamine (METH), a highly addictive psychostimulant, has not been thoroughly investigated in the context of TBI exposure. The interplay between the two has been of interest as their pathophysiology intertwines on many levels. However, the knowledge concerning the association between TBI-METH and the impact of chronic METH use on short and long-term TBI outcomes is equivocal at best. In this review of the literature, we postulate that, when combined, these two conditions synergize to result in more significant neuronal damage. As such, chronic exposure to METH before brain trauma may accentuate the pathophysiological signs of injury, worsening TBI outcomes. Similarly, individuals with a history of TBI would be more vulnerable to METH misuse and harmful effects. We, therefore, review the most recent preclinical and clinical data tackling the significant overlap in the pathophysiology of TBI and METH at three levels the structural level, the biochemical level, and the cellular level. We also highlight some controversial results of studies investigating the outcomes of the interaction between TBI and METH. BACKGROUND Although uncommon, neoplasms of the appendix do exist. The two most common types are neuroendocrine tumors and mucinous appendiceal neoplasms. METHODS In two patients unusual gross and microscopic findings in an appendectomy specimen were recorded. Special immunocytochemistry studies were used to determine the histologic type of the tumors in the appendix. RESULTS The clinical features and histopathology of two patients who had both a neuroendocrine tumor and a low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm in the same appendectomy specimen were described. Possibilities for the causation and treatment of this unusual condition were discussed. The incidence of this double malignancy was estimated at 2.5 in 1000 appendectomy specimens. CONCLUSION Although extremely unusual, a neuroendocrine tumor and a mucinous appendiceal neoplasm can exist in the same appendix. This condition is reported in two young patients. Inotodiol is a lanostane triterpenoid found only in Chaga mushroom. In the previous study investigating anti-allergic effects of fractionated Chaga mushroom extracts, we have found evidence that purified inotodiol holds an activity to suppress the mast cell function in vivo. To address the therapeutic relevance of the finding, in this study, we investigated whether inotodiol could also alleviate allergy symptoms observed in a chicken ovalbumin (cOVA)-induced mouse model of food allergy. Like the crude 70% ethanol extract of Chaga mushroom (320 mg/kg), oral administration of inotodiol (20 mg/kg), regardless of whether that was for preventive or treatment purpose, resulted in a significant improvement in allergic symptoms and inflammatory lesions in the small intestine appearing after repeated oral challenge with cOVA. Despite the results that inotodiol (20 mg/kg) and the Chaga mushroom extract (320 mg/kg) took effect to a similar extent, immunological mechanisms underlying those effects were found to be distinct from each other. That is, the results obtained from several in vivo assays, including mast cell-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis, activation/proliferation of adoptively transferred antigen-specific T cells and immunoglobulin (IgG1, IgE, IgA) production by antigen-specific B cells, illustrated that inotodiol selectively inhibited the mast cell function without having any noticeable effect on other immune responses while the crude Chaga mushroom extract indiscriminately suppressed diverse immune responses. The strong anti-allergic activity of inotodiol, along with its remarkable selectivity to mast cell, makes it an excellent therapeutic candidate for food allergy with both high efficacy and outstanding safety. BACKGROUND Resection And Partial Liver Segment 2/3 Transplantation with Delayed total hepatectomy (RAPID) includes total hepatectomy in 2 steps with small graft transplantation at first stage. To avoid graft portal hyperperfusion, portal vein pressure monitoring is required after revascularization and right portal vein clamping. To date, portal flow modulation has not been reported but simulating hemodynamics in RAPID patients would be useful to anticipate these procedures. Our team developed hemodynamic 0D modeling; we aimed to assess if this mathematical model could be accurately used in the RAPID setting. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/a1874.html METHODS The modified 0D model was retrospectively tested on 3 patients. We compared our estimated portal vein pressures and portocaval gradients to those intraoperatively measured, as indication to modulate portal flow relies on these measures. FINDINGS Portal pressures measured after right portal vein clamping (end of RAPID procedure) in patients 1, 2 and 3 were respectively of 14, 16 and 12 mmHg while the simulated pressures were of 13.