Portal hypertension is associated with poorer outcome and clinical liver decompensation in patients with HCC treated with Atezolizumab-Bevacizumab.

Background: Portal hypertension (PHT) often complicates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment and prognosis. We aimed to assess PHT's impact on AtezoBev outcomes and identify predictors of acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and clinical ascites occurrence.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 200 HCC patients treated with AtezoBev was studied alongside a retrospective cohort of 123 patients treated with Sorafenib.

Development of complex pedagogical competencies and reflexivity in clinical teachers via distance learning: a mixed methods study.

Clinical reasoning is the cornerstone to healthcare practice and teaching it appropriately is of utmost importance. Yet there is little formal training for clinical supervisors in supervising this reasoning process. Distance education provides interesting opportunities for continuous professional development of healthcare professionals.

Baveno VI and VII criteria are not suitable for screening for large varices or clinically significant portal hypertension in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Baveno VI and VII criteria are used in patients with cirrhosis to rule out large size oesophageal varices (EV) and rule in/out clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH).

Aim: To evaluate their diagnostic performance in these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively included all patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis and HCC who had endoscopy, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and platelet count within 6 months.

Baseline ALBI score and early variation of serum AFP predicts outcomes in patients with HCC treated by atezolizumab-bevacizumab.

Background: The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (AtezoBev) is the current first-line treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic role of alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) early response and its combination with albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) in these patients.

Methods: Patients with HCC under AtezoBev with AFP > 20 ng/ml were included in three centres.

A history of variceal bleeding is associated with further bleeding under atezolizumab-bevacizumab in patients with HCC.

Background: Atezolizumab-bevacizumab is the new standard for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but its impact on portal hypertension (PHT) is unknown. We aimed to identify predictive factors of acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and to monitor PHT parameters under treatment.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study including all cirrhotic patients treated with atezolizumab-bevacizumab since 2020.

Experiences and career intentions of combat-deployed UK military personnel.

Background: Most studies of the psychological impact of military deployment focus on the negative and traumatic aspects. Less is known about the full range of deployment experiences nor how these may impact on career intentions.

Aims: To examine subjective operational experiences and career intentions in deployed UK military personnel using data gathered toward the end of an operational deployment.

Cohesion, leadership, mental health stigmatisation and perceived barriers to care in UK military personnel.

Background: Military research suggests a significant association between leadership, cohesion, mental health stigmatisation and perceived barriers to care (stigma/BTC).

Aim: Most studies are cross sectional, therefore longitudinal data were used to examine the association of leadership and cohesion with stigma/BTC.

Method: Military personnel provided measures of leadership, cohesion, stigma/BTC, mental health awareness and willingness to discuss mental health following deployment (n = 2510) and 4-6 months later (n = 1636).

In Rwandese Women with Low Iron Status, Iron Absorption from Low-Phytic Acid Beans and Biofortified Beans Is Comparable, but Low-Phytic Acid Beans Cause Adverse Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

Background: Phytic acid (PA) is a major inhibitor of iron bioavailability from beans, and high PA concentrations might limit the positive effect of biofortified beans (BBs) on iron status. Low-phytic acid (lpa) bean varieties could increase iron bioavailability.

Objective: We set out to test whether lpa beans provide more bioavailable iron than a BB variety when served as part of a composite meal in a bean-consuming population with low iron status.

Genetic reduction of phytate in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds increases iron absorption in young women.

Iron bioavailability from common beans is negatively influenced by phytic acid (PA) and polyphenols (PPs). Newly developed low-PA (lpa) beans with 90% less PA and variable PPs might improve iron bioavailability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of lpa beans on iron bioavailability in women (n = 20).

Akt regulates glutamate receptor trafficking and postsynaptic membrane elaboration at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.

The Akt family of serine-threonine kinases integrates a myriad of signals governing cell proliferation, apoptosis, glucose metabolism, and cytoskeletal organization. Akt affects neuronal morphology and function, influencing dendrite growth and the expression of ion channels. Akt is also an integral element of PI3Kinase-target of rapamycin (TOR)-Rheb signaling, a pathway that affects synapse assembly in both vertebrates and Drosophila.

Diet and energy-sensing inputs affect TorC1-mediated axon misrouting but not TorC2-directed synapse growth in a Drosophila model of tuberous sclerosis.

The Target of Rapamycin (TOR) growth regulatory system is influenced by a number of different inputs, including growth factor signaling, nutrient availability, and cellular energy levels. While the effects of TOR on cell and organismal growth have been well characterized, this pathway also has profound effects on neural development and behavior. Hyperactivation of the TOR pathway by mutations in the upstream TOR inhibitors TSC1 (tuberous sclerosis complex 1) or TSC2 promotes benign tumors and neurological and behavioral deficits, a syndrome known as tuberous sclerosis (TS).

A defective ABC transporter of the MRP family, responsible for the bean lpa1 mutation, affects the regulation of the phytic acid pathway, reduces seed myo-inositol and alters ABA sensitivity.

• We previously identified the lpa1 (low phytic acid) 280-10 line that carries a mutation conferring a 90% reduction in phytic acid (InsP(6) ) content. In contrast to other lpa mutants, lpa1(280-10) does not display negative pleiotropic effects. In the present paper, we have identified the mutated gene and analysed its impact on the phytic acid pathway.

Isolation and characterisation of an lpa (low phytic acid) mutant in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Phytic acid is considered as one of the major antinutritional compounds in cereal and legume seeds. The development of lpa (low phytic acid) grains, resulting in increased mineral cation availability, is considered a major goal in the improvement of the nutritional quality of seed crops, especially those largely consumed in developing countries. From a mutagenized population of common bean we isolated a homozygous lpa mutant line (lpa-280-10) showing, compared to wild type, a 90% reduction of phytic acid, a 25% reduction of raffinosaccharides and a much higher amount of free or weakly bound iron cations in the seed.

Introduction of a novel pathway for IAA biosynthesis to rhizobia alters vetch root nodule development.

We introduced into Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae LPR1105 a new pathway for the biosynthesis of the auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), under the control of a stationary phase-activated promoter active both in free-living bacteria and bacteroids. The newly introduced genes are the iaaM gene from Pseudomonas savastanoi and the tms2 gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Problem solving: not good medicine for health care.

Explore the challenging paradoxes that run throughout health care and consider ways to accept them into an organization.

Preparing physicians to lead.

The University of St. Thomas' Physician Leadership College is an 18-month program that trains physicians in leadership and management. It was started in 1999 in response to calls from within the health care industry for more training of physician leaders to guide reform efforts.

Psychological morbidity during the 2002 deployment to Afghanistan.

Questionnaires were completed by military personnel on arrival (n=1,696) in Kabul, Afghanistan and then again on departure (n=1,134). Analysis of the 113 personnel who completed both the arrivals and departures questionnaire revealed a lower alcohol use score after deployment (AUDIT mean difference (post-deployment - pre-deployment) = -0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 1.

A thermodynamic approach to designing structure-free combinatorial DNA word sets.

An algorithm is presented for the generation of sets of non-interacting DNA sequences, employing existing thermodynamic models for the prediction of duplex stabilities and secondary structures. A DNA 'word' structure is employed in which individual DNA 'words' of a given length (e.g.

Physician-led: good idea or not?

Whether physicians or not, leaders must possess certain skills and qualities to achieve success. Take a look at what's required to be an effective leader.

Evaluation of the effects of intravascular MR contrast media (gadolinium dendrimer) on 3D time of flight magnetic resonance angiography of the body.

The aims of this preliminary study were to establish the efficacy and minimum effective dose of TG(5)(FdDO3A)(52) gadolinium dendrimer for contrast-enhanced, three-dimensional (3D) time of flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the body. In a dose ranging study in eight rabbits (Group A), each of two animals received 0.03; 0.

Gynogenic lines of onion (Allium cepa L.): evidence of their homozygosity.

Haploid induction via gynogenesis offers the possibility of using doubled haploid (DH) inbred lines in onion breeding. A first DH line that originated from the open-pollinated (OP) cultivar 'Dorata di Parma' was obtained after overcoming difficulties associated with the haploidy of the regenerants. Spontaneous chromosome doubling occurs seldom in onion.

Complication rates for the esophageal obturator airway and endotracheal tube in the prehospital setting.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the complication rates associated with the use of the endotracheal tube (ET) and the use of the esophageal obturator airway/esophageal gastric tube airway (EOA/EGTA) during the treatment of patients with prehospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: A descriptive, quasi-experimental study of 509 consecutive adults, cardiac arrest patients was conducted. Patients were examined prospectively for airway intervention type and complications.