Emotional words evoke region- and valence-specific patterns of concurrent neuromodulator release in human thalamus and cortex.

Words represent a uniquely human information channel-humans use words to express thoughts and feelings and to assign emotional valence to experience. Work from model organisms suggests that valence assignments are carried out in part by the neuromodulators dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Here, we ask whether valence signaling by these neuromodulators extends to word semantics in humans by measuring sub-second neuromodulator dynamics in the thalamus (N = 13) and anterior cingulate cortex (N = 6) of individuals evaluating positive, negative, and neutrally valenced words.

Sternotomy or thoracotomy for neonatal repair of coarctation of the aorta with aortic arch hypoplasia.

Objective: For neonatal repair of coarctation of the aorta, patients may either undergo thoracotomy with extended end-to-end anastomosis or sternotomy for aortic arch reconstruction with cardiopulmonary bypass. The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the 2 approaches in patients with arch hypoplasia.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study from July 2005 through May 2022 of patients who underwent neonatal repair for isolated coarctation of the aorta with additional arch hypoplasia.

Selective treatment de-escalation in advanced prostate cancer: have we come full circle?

Compelling evidence has solidified the notion of early treatment intensification in managing patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Landmark trials have provided Level 1 evidence for the survival benefits achieved by combining multiple agents. The efficacy of combined therapy relies not only on how treatment is intensified but also on how it is de-escalated.

Position statement of the World Endoscopy Organization: Role of endoscopy in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of esophageal superficial squamous neoplasia.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains a significant global health challenge, being the sixth leading cause of cancer mortality with pronounced geographic variability. The incidence rates range from 125 per 100,000 in northern China to 1-1.5 per 100,000 in the United States, driven by environmental and lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, dietary habits, and pollution.

Comparison of cerebral technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer perfusion in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) are closely related neurodegenerative conditions within the Lewy body spectrum. The relationship between DLB and PDD remains debated, with ongoing discussion about whether they are distinct diseases or different manifestations of the same disorder. This study aimed to identify differences in cerebral perfusion patterns between DLB and PDD patients.

The Long-Term Risk of Metachronous Advanced Adenoma Recurrence After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Colorectal Neoplasia: A Propensity-Score Matched Longitudinal Cohort With 5-Year Follow-Up.

Introduction: Long-term data on metachronous advanced adenoma (AA) recurrence after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) remain scarce, leading to a lack of a standardized surveillance strategy. This study aims to evaluate the long-term risk of recurrent AA after ESD.

Materials And Methods: A longitudinal retrospective cohort study with propensity-score matching was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong.

Targeted Microwave Ablation for Prostate Cancer Under Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Ultrasound Fusion and Organ-based Tracking: Final Results from the First Phase 2 Trial (TMA-HK).

Targeted microwave ablation (TMA) is a novel focal therapy modality for prostate cancer (PC). TMA-HK is the first phase 2 trial investigating the efficacy and functional outcomes of transperineal TMA (NCT04113811) in 30 men with low- or intermediate-risk PC. TMA was performed transperineally with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrasound fusion guidance and organ-based tracking.

Association Between Hypoglycemia Agents and Long-term Survival Outcomes for Patients with Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Treated with Intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Immunotherapy.

Background And Objective: There is a lack of data on the impact of hypoglycemia agents, especially metformin, on prognosis for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Our aim was to investigate the association between hypoglycemia agents, especially metformin, and long-term survival outcomes for patients with NMIBC treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Methods: All patients with NMIBC treated with intravesical BCG therapy from 2001 to 2020 were identified in a territory-wide database in Hong Kong.

Using a mixed-reality headset to elicit and track clinically relevant movement in the clinic.

Background: 21st century neurology will require scalable and quantitative tools that can improve neurologic evaluations over telehealth and expand access to care. Commercially available mixed-reality headsets allow for simultaneous presentation of stimuli via holograms projected into the real world and objective and quantitative measurement of hand movement, eye movement, and phonation.

New Method: We created 6 tasks designed to mimic standard neurologic assessments and administered them to a single participant via the Microsoft HoloLens 2 mixed-reality headset.

Anatomic characteristics of the right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery in patients who do and do not undergo vascular ring repair.

Introduction: It is unclear if certain anatomic characteristics in patients with a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery (RAA ALSCA) are associated with undergoing surgical repair.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study of patients with RAA ALSCA and computed tomography or cardiovascular magnetic resonance from July 2013-September 2023. The size of the proximal ALSCA or diverticulum of Kommerell (DoK), thoracic inlet index, angle of the proximal ALSCA/DoK from the aortic arch, the position of descending aorta, location of the DoK, and tracheal size were compared between patients who did or did not undergo surgery.

Global COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among elderly: A systematic review.

Background & Objectives: Elderly infected with COVID-19 has high mortality risk, and the protection from COVID-19 vaccine is limited by vaccine hesitancy. The information of vaccine hesitancy in elderly is incomplete and fragmented. In this study, we attempt to examine the level of vaccine hesitancy in elderly and the related factors in global perspectives.

Intermolecular (4 + 3) Cycloadditions of Oxetanyl and Azetidinyl Enolsilanes.

We report the intermolecular (4 + 3) cycloadditions of oxetanyl and azetidinyl enolsilanes with different dienes by silylium catalysis to generate bicyclic scaffolds. These enolsilanes were competent to react with furans, cyclopentadiene, and 1,3-cyclohexadiene to deliver cycloadducts in up to 96% yields.

Combined sorption-biodegradation for removal of energetic compounds from stormwater runoff.

Munition constituents (MC) in stormwater runoff have the potential to move these pollutants into receiving bodies at military installations. Here we present further evaluation of a passive and sustainable biofilter technology for removal of dissolved MC from simulated surface runoff by combined sorption-biodegradation processes under dynamic flow conditions. Columns were packed with MC sorbents Sphagnum peat moss and cationized (CAT) pine shavings with and without wood-based biochar.

The Added Value of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography to Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Local Staging of Prostate Cancer in Patients Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy.

Background And Objective: The role of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-based positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for local staging of prostate cancer (PC) has been poorly addressed so far. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of PSMA PET/CT and MRI, alone and combined, for detection of extraprostatic extension (EPE) and seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) in PC.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study evaluating patients undergoing PSMA PET/CT and MRI before radical prostatectomy.

Vertebral Bone Quality Score as a Predictor of Subsequent Fractures After Cement Augmentation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture.

Background And Objectives: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) T-scores have been shown to predict fragility fractures in population-based studies. Recently, a novel MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score has been proposed, showing better predictability for fragility fractures compared with DXA T-scores. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between VBQ scores and DXA T-scores and to determine the impact of VBQ scores on the risk of subsequent fragility fractures after cement augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).

Patient Preferences for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatment: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background: To examine the preference weightings for risk/benefit attributes of therapy in metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) patients, encompassing hormone-sensitive (mHSPC) and castration-resistant (mCRPC) settings.

Patients And Methods: A noninterventional cross-sectional survey employing a discrete choice experiment was conducted, recruiting 200 mHSPC and 100 mCRPC patients within 5 years of diagnosis from the urology and oncology specialty clinics between Feb 2023 and Jul 2023. Patients were randomized into 2 blocks of 9 questions, choosing 1 out of 2 medication profiles consisting 5 attributes, each with 3 levels, determined from a group interview of 5 patients.

Optimizing the New Model of Nurse Practitioner Regulation in Canada to Support the Integration of Genomics.

The demand for genomic services has outpaced the capacity of the health system, thus creating opportunities for nurse practitioners (NPs) to develop genomic literacy and expand the genomics-informed services that NPs can offer to optimize safe and equitable healthcare. The new model of NP regulation that aims to educate all NPs, based on a set of common entry-level competencies, has the potential to accelerate the integration of genomics into education and practice. In this commentary, we explore opportunities within a new NP regulatory framework and highlight how NPs can strengthen Canadians' access to genomic technologies as clinicians, advocates, leaders, scholars and educators.

Fostering Pan-Canadian Collaboration to Advance Nursing Workforce Development: A Case Study From the Genomics Experience.

A skilled nursing workforce can ensure that Canadians have safe and equitable access to genomics-informed healthcare. Evidence-informed frameworks designed to support the implementation of genomics across nursing indicate that leadership and collaboration are critical to success. However, siloed provincial and territorial healthcare systems create challenges for harmonizing efforts.