Thalamic deep brain stimulation for central poststroke pain syndrome: an international multicenter study.

Objective: The effectiveness and optimal stimulation site of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for central poststroke pain (CPSP) remain elusive. The objective of this retrospective international multicenter study was to assess clinical as well as neuroimaging-based predictors of long-term outcomes after DBS for CPSP.

Methods: The authors analyzed patient-based clinical and neuroimaging data of previously published and unpublished cohorts from 6 international DBS centers.

Xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis: multimodality imaging of a rare case involving tibial diaphysis with review of literature.

The case report discusses xanthogranulomatous osteomyelitis, a rare inflammatory bone condition that can resemble malignancy on imaging studies. The report details a case of a 42-year-old woman with left leg pain, swelling, and redness lasting 4 months. Imaging revealed a lytic lesion in the left tibia with endosteal erosion, and MRI showed extraosseous soft tissue extension.

Genetic and allelic heterogeneity in 248 Indians with skeletal dysplasia.

Skeletal dysplasias are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of rare disorders. Studies from large cohorts are essential to provide insights into the disease epidemiology, phenotypic spectrum, and mutational profiles. Here we enumerate additional 248 Indians from 197 families with a skeletal dysplasia, following a similar study earlier.

Stimulant use disorder and the likelihood of stroke: Analysis of a national database in the United States.

Background: Stimulant use has been associated with an increased risk of stroke, though data on clinical characteristics and exact risk are limited. This retrospective case-control study examines stroke risk in individuals with stimulant use disorder using data from a national U.S.

Combining Radioembolization and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Quest for Synergy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading and increasing contributor to cancer-related death worldwide. Recent advancements in both liver-directed therapies in the form of Y-90 radioembolization (Y-90-RE) and systemic therapy in the form of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have expanded treatment options for patients with an otherwise poor prognosis. Despite these gains, ICIs and Y-90-RE each have key limitations with low objective response rates and persistent hazard of out-of-field recurrence, respectively, and overall survival remains low.

Automated Single Cell Phenotyping of Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Tissue Images.

Existing analytical techniques are being improved or applied in new ways to profile the tissue microenvironment (TME) to better understand the role of cells in disease research. Fully understanding the complex interactions between cells of many different types and functions is often slowed by the intense data analysis required. Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI) has been developed to simultaneously characterize 50+ cell types and their functions within the TME with a subcellular spatial resolution, but this results in complex data sets that are challenging to qualitatively analyze.

Using machine learning to determine a functional classifier of reward responsiveness and its association with adolescent psychiatric symptomatology.

Background: Machine learning (ML) has developed classifiers differentiating patient groups despite concerns regarding diagnostic reliability. An alternative strategy, used here, is to develop a functional classifier (hyperplane) (e.g.

Routes of importation and spatial dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 variants during localized interventions in Chile.

Human mobility is strongly associated with the spread of SARS-CoV-2 via air travel on an international scale and with population mixing and the number of people moving between locations on a local scale. However, these conclusions are drawn mostly from observations in the context of the global north where international and domestic connectivity is heavily influenced by the air travel network; scenarios where land-based mobility can also dominate viral spread remain understudied. Furthermore, research on the effects of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) has mostly focused on national- or regional-scale implementations, leaving gaps in our understanding of the potential benefits of implementing NPIs at higher granularity.

Comprehensive Insight into Green Synthesis Approaches, Structural Activity Relationship, and Therapeutic Potential of Pyrazolic Chalcone Derivative.

Pyrazolic chalcone exhibits diverse therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and anti-diabetic properties. Structural activity relationship (SAR) studies play a crucial role in understanding the molecular aspects governing their biological effects, guiding the rational design of derivatives with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects. This review provides an overview of pyrazolic chalcone derivatives, emphasizing their synthesis through both conventional and green methods.

COVID-19 pandemic interventions reshaped the global dispersal of seasonal influenza viruses.

The global dynamics of seasonal influenza viruses inform the design of surveillance, intervention, and vaccination strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a singular opportunity to evaluate how influenza circulation worldwide was perturbed by human behavioral changes. We combine molecular, epidemiological, and international travel data and find that the pandemic's onset led to a shift in the intensity and structure of international influenza lineage movement.

COVID-19 testing and reporting behaviours in England across different sociodemographic groups: a population-based study using testing data and data from community prevalence surveillance surveys.

Background: Understanding underlying mechanisms of heterogeneity in test-seeking and reporting behaviour during an infectious disease outbreak can help to protect vulnerable populations and guide equity-driven interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic probably exerted different stresses on individuals in different sociodemographic groups and ensuring fair access to and usage of COVID-19 tests was a crucial element of England's testing programme. We aimed to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 testing behaviours in England during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Childhood neglect is associated with alterations in neural prediction error signaling and the response to novelty.

Background: One in eight children experience early life stress (ELS), which increases risk for psychopathology. ELS, particularly neglect, has been associated with reduced responsivity to reward. However, little work has investigated the computational specifics of this disrupted reward response - particularly with respect to the neural response to Reward Prediction Errors (RPE) - a critical signal for successful instrumental learning - and the extent to which they are augmented to novel stimuli.

Atogepant for migraine prevention: a meta-analysis of safety and efficacy in adults.

Background: Migraine is a neurological condition marked by frequent headaches, which tends to be accompanied by nausea and vomiting in severe instances. Injectable therapies for migraine, such as monoclonal antibodies that target calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), have proven to be effective and safe. While various oral drugs are available, none have been developed for migraines.

A polarized FGF8 source specifies frontotemporal signatures in spatially oriented cell populations of cortical assembloids.

Organoids generating major cortical cell types in distinct compartments are used to study cortical development, evolution and disorders. However, the lack of morphogen gradients imparting cortical positional information and topography in current systems hinders the investigation of complex phenotypes. Here, we engineer human cortical assembloids by fusing an organizer-like structure expressing fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) with an elongated organoid to enable the controlled modulation of FGF8 signaling along the longitudinal organoid axis.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of a Thermomechanical Fractional Injury Device for Neck Rejuvenation.

Background: Neck rejuvenation has consistently become a popular cosmetic procedure. While various treatment modalities have been used, a novel fractional thermomechanical skin rejuvenation system was recently developed to create dermal coagulation through direct heat transfer with subsequent neocollagenesis.

Objective: A prospective clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of a thermomechanical fractional injury device (Tixel 2, Novoxel, Netanya, Israel) for neck rhytides.

755-nm Picosecond Laser With Diffractive Lens Array for Acne Scars in Fitzpatrick Skin Types V and VI.

Background: Patients commonly complain about the appearance of acne scars. While various lasers and energy-based devices can offer clinical improvement, many of them are limited in treating patients with skin of color. Concerns exist regarding efficacy and safety, including risks of scarring, prolonged dyspigmentation, necrosis, and burns.

Bridging healthcare access: strategies beyond the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Issued in January 2020, the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE)'s termination was ultimately inevitable and has prompted reflection over how the pandemic elicited relatively progressive reforms to healthcare. Although we are concerned that the PHE's termination poses a significant threat to public health and equity, we believe that physicians, along with systemic changes, can provide critical support for patients as they navigate a shifting health policy landscape. In response to this evolving landscape, the article emphasizes the pivotal role of physicians and healthcare institutions in safeguarding patient access to care.