Rapid mechanical phenotyping of breast cancer cells based on stochastic intracellular fluctuations.

Predicting the phenotypic impact of genetic variants and treatments is crucial in cancer genetics and precision oncology. Here, we have developed a noise decorrelation method that enables quantitative phase imaging (QPI) with the capability for label-free noninvasive mapping of intracellular dry mass fluctuations within the millisecond-to-second timescale regime, previously inaccessible due to temporal phase noise. Applied to breast cancer cells, this method revealed regions driven by thermal forces and regions of intense activity fueled by ATP hydrolysis.

The value of the reflective discussion in decision-making using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA): an example of determining the value contribution of tabelecleucel for the treatment of the Epstein Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV PTLD).

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of the reflective multidisciplinary discussion in determining the value contribution of innovative drugs through the multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This methodology considers all relevant criteria for healthcare decision-making in a global, transparent, and systematic manner and from the perspective of relevant stakeholders. The determination of value contribution of tabelecleucel for the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV PTLD) compared to salvage therapy was used as an example.

Single chamber Mg/Ca analyses of Globigerinoides ruber for paleo-proxy calibration using femtosecond LA-ICP-MS.

Mg/Ca is an independent proxy in paleoceanography to reconstruct past seawater temperature. Femtosecond Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (fs-LA-ICP-MS) was employed to determine the Mg/Ca composition of tests (shells) of the planktic foraminifer species Globigerinoides ruber albus (white chromotype) and G. ruber ruber (red/pink chromotype) sampled alive from the temperate to subtropical eastern North Atlantic with the research sailing yacht Eugen Seibold.

A Review of Current Approaches to Evaluating and Reimbursing New Medicines in a Subset of OECD Countries.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the current evaluation and funding processes for new drugs in different developed countries, to provide a comparative framework with detailed, homogeneous, and up-to-date information.

Methods: Scientific publications, reports and websites were reviewed between July and December 2021 using PubMed, Google Scholar, and grey literature sources. The main items searched were actors and processes, including timelines, characteristics of clinical and economic evaluations, participation of stakeholders, elements of price and reimbursement decisions, cost-effectiveness thresholds and specific funds.

Simultaneous Optical and Mechanical Sensing Based on Optomechanical Resonators.

Optical and mechanical resonators have each been abundantly employed in sensing applications, albeit following separate development. Here we show that bringing together optical and mechanical resonances in a unique sensing device significantly improves the sensor performance. To that purpose, we employ nanoscale optomechanical disk resonators that simultaneously support high quality optical and mechanical modes localized in tiny volumes, which provide extraordinary sensitivities.

Increased prokaryotic diversity in the Red Sea deep scattering layer.

Background: The diel vertical migration (DVM) of fish provides an active transport of labile dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the deep ocean, fueling the metabolism of heterotrophic bacteria and archaea. We studied the impact of DVM on the mesopelagic prokaryotic diversity of the Red Sea focusing on the mesopelagic deep scattering layer (DSL) between 450-600 m.

Results: Despite the general consensus of homogeneous conditions in the mesopelagic layer, we observed variability in physico-chemical variables (oxygen, inorganic nutrients, DOC) in the depth profiles.

Impaired intratumoral dendritic cell function and potential predictive value of dendritic cell markers for metastasis in malignant salivary gland tumors.

Background: The differentiation between primary and metastatic salivary gland neoplasms (SGNs) helps in determining appropriate management strategies, including the need for additional diagnostic tests, surveillance, or aggressive treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify the immature and mature dendritic cells (DCs) in metastatic and no metastatic SGNs and determine its association with clinicopathological findings.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study that includes 33 malignant salivary gland neoplasms [MSGN (6, 18.

Performance of a New Rapid Point-of-Care Test for Infliximab Levels in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Comparison to ELISA.

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring of infliximab levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) optimizes patients' treatment. The reference technique is based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) although point of care (POC) assays are being developed.

Aims: To assess the performance of a new rapid immunochromatographic POC assay (Promonitor Quick IFX) compared with ELISA technique to measure infliximab levels in patients with IBD.

Nanomechanical Sensing for Mass Flow Control in Nanowire-Based Open Nanofluidic Systems.

Open nanofluidic systems, where liquids flow along the outer surface of nanoscale structures, provide otherwise unfeasible capabilities for extremely miniaturized liquid handling applications. A critical step toward fully functional applications is to obtain quantitative mass flow control. We demonstrate the application of nanomechanical sensing for this purpose by integrating voltage-driven liquid flow along nanowire open channels with mass detection based on flexural resonators.

Rehabilitation Nurses' Knowledge About Pain in Older Adults in Malta.

Purpose: Rehabilitation nurses require adequate knowledge about pain to improve patient experience and quality of care. We explored nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pain in older adults in a large rehabilitation hospital in Malta.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Vitamin D receptor and binding protein genes variants in patients with migraine.

Background/objectives: Several studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D and migraine, including the association between decreased serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in patients with migraine and the positive effects of vitamin D supplementations in the therapy of this disease. Two single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, VDR rs2228570, and VDR rs731236 have shown an association with migraine risk in a previous case-control association study, while an exome sequencing study identified a rare variant in GC vitamin D binding protein gene. This study aims to look for the association between several common variants in these two genes and the risk for migraine.

Seasonality of top-down control of bacterioplankton at two central Red Sea sites with different trophic status.

The role of bottom-up (nutrient availability) and top-down (grazers and viruses mortality) controls on tropical bacterioplankton have been rarely investigated simultaneously from a seasonal perspective. We have assessed them through monthly samplings over 2 years in inshore and offshore waters of the central Red Sea differing in trophic status. Flow cytometric analysis allowed us to distinguish five groups of heterotrophic bacteria based on physiological properties (nucleic acid content, membrane integrity and active respiration), three groups of cyanobacteria (two populations of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus), heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs) and three groups of viruses based on nucleic acid content.

Profiling low-proficiency science students in the Philippines using machine learning.

Filipino students' performance in global assessments of science literacy has always been low, and this was confirmed again in the PISA 2018, where Filipino learners' average science literacy scores ranked second to last among 78 countries. In this study, machine learning approaches were used to analyze PISA data from the student questionnaire to test models that best identify the poorest-performing Filipino students. The goal was to explore factors that could help identify the students who are vulnerable to very low achievement in science and that could indicate possible targets for reform in science education in the Philippines.

Square Membrane Resonators Supporting Degenerate Modes of Vibration for High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry of Single Bacterial Cells.

In nanomechanical mass spectrometry, sensing devices are commonly placed in the vacuum environment and a stream of analytes is directed toward the sensor surface for measurement. Beam structures, such as double-clamped nanobeams and nanocantilevers, are commonly used due to their low inertial mass and the simplicity of the analytical models for mass extraction. The drawback of such structures is their low capture areas, compromising the capture efficiency and throughput of this technique.

Results of treatment with alemtuzumab in a Spanish cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis in the real world: The RealMS study.

Background: Alemtuzumab (ALZ) is a humanized monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) administered in two annual courses. The objective of this study was to describe the effectiveness and safety data of ALZ and to report the health resource utilization in patients receiving this treatment.

Methods: In this retrospective, non-interventional study, information was retrieved from patients' medical charts at one center in Spain.

Lack of Association between Common Variants and Risk of Migraine.

Several papers have been published suggesting a probable role of inflammatory factors in the etiopathogenesis of migraine. In this study, we investigated the possible association between common variants in the genes (both genes, which are closely related, encode proteins involved in inflammatory and autoimmune responses) in the risk of migraine in a cohort of Caucasian Spanish participants. For this purpose, the frequencies of rs1922452, rs951818, and rs870849 genotypes and allelic variants, using a specific -based qPCR assay, were assessed in 290 patients diagnosed with migraine and in 300 healthy controls.

The effects of search-irrelevant working memory content on visual search.

Previous experiments investigating visual search have shown that distractors that are semantically related to a search target can capture attention and slow the search process. In two experiments, we examine if distractors exactly matching, or semantically related to, search-irrelevant information held in working memory (WM) can also influence visual search while ruling out potential effects of color similarity. Participants first viewed and memorized an image of an everyday object, then they determined if a target item was present or absent in a two-object search array.

Growth dynamics and transcriptional responses of a Red Sea Prochlorococcus strain to varying temperatures.

Prochlorococcus play a crucial role in the ocean's biogeochemical cycling, but it remains controversial how they will respond to global warming. Here we assessed the response to temperature (22-30°C) of the growth dynamics and gene expression profiles of a Red Sea Prochlorococcus strain (RSP50) in a non-axenic culture. Both the specific growth rate (0.

Genes Variants and the Risk for Restless Legs Syndrome.

According to several studies, inflammatory factors could be related to the pathogenesis of idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS). In addition, RLS and Parkinson's disease (PD) have shown a possible relationship, and recent studies have shown an association between rs1922452 and rs951818 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and the risk for PD. For these reasons, we investigated the possible association between common variants in the genes (which encoded proteins involved in inflammatory and autoimmune responses) and the risk for RLS in a Caucasian Spanish population.

High-throughput determination of dry mass of single bacterial cells by ultrathin membrane resonators.

How bacteria are able to maintain their size remains an open question. Techniques that can measure the biomass (dry mass) of single cells with high precision and high-throughput are demanded to elucidate this question. Here, we present a technological approach that combines the transport, guiding and focusing of individual bacteria from solution to the surface of an ultrathin silicon nitride membrane resonator in vacuum.

Hormone sensitive protocol for metastatic prostate cancer, an update.

To review and update last protocols in hormone sensitive metastatic prostate cancer for improving clinical management in routine. Evidence analysis available about recent updates protocols in hormone sensitive metastatic prostate cancer according to expert panel of clinicians about this field. A nominal consensus group for unify and improve the recommendations to the management of sensitive metastatic prostate cancer patients is currently needed.

Health-related quality of life of X-linked hypophosphatemia in Spain.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is lower than that of both the general population and the patients with other chronic diseases, mainly due to diagnostic delay, treatment difficulties, poor psychosocial support, and problems with social integration. Early diagnosis and optimal treatment are paramount to control the disease in patients with XLH, avoid complications, and maintain or improve their HRQoL. We, therefore, analyzed the HRQoL of pediatric and adult patients with XLH treated with conventional therapy in Spain.

Feasibility study to characterize price and reimbursement decision-making criteria for the inclusion of new drugs in the Spanish National Health System: the cefiderocol example.

Objectives: The reimbursement of medicines by the Spanish National Health System (NHS) is based on a set of criteria included in the Royal Legislative Decree 1/2015 (RDL 1/2015). The Interministerial Committee on Pricing of Medicines and Healthcare Products (CIPM) is responsible for the final price and reimbursement (P&R) decision, including on its resolutions the criteria listed in the law by which the reimbursement of a drug is approved or denied. Nevertheless, the information behind its reasoning is not provided.