Expanding the Scope of Interventional Oncology: Locoregional Therapies in Extrahepatic Malignancies.

Background/objectives: Locoregional therapies (LRTs), including transarterial embolization (TAE), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and transarterial radioembolization (TARE), have become integral in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recent decades and continue to shape evolving treatment strategies. While their role in liver tumor management is well established, their potential for treating extrahepatic malignancies is gaining increasing attention. Notably, growing research has highlighted the promising applications of TAE, TACE, and TARE in extrahepatic cancers such as glioblastoma (GBM), soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), prostate cancer (PCa), pancreatic cancer, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Two-stage photodegradation of indomethacin molecular nanocomposites under extreme confinement.

The incorporation of a glassy material into a self-assembled nanoparticle (NP) film can produce highly loaded nanocomposites. Reduction of the NP diameter can lead to extreme nanoconfinement of the glass, significantly affecting the thermal and physical properties of the nanocomposite material. Here, we investigate the photostability and photodegradation mechanisms of molecular nanocomposite films (MNCFs) produced from the infiltration of indomethacin (IMC) molecules into self-assembled films of silica NPs (11-100 nm in diameter).

Rapid and quantitative functional interrogation of human enhancer variant activity in live mice.

Functional analysis of non-coding variants associated with congenital disorders remains challenging due to the lack of efficient in vivo models. Here we introduce dual-enSERT, a robust Cas9-based two-color fluorescent reporter system which enables rapid, quantitative comparison of enhancer allele activities in live mice in less than two weeks. We use this technology to examine and measure the gain- and loss-of-function effects of enhancer variants previously linked to limb polydactyly, autism spectrum disorder, and craniofacial malformation.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance Strategies: Major Guidelines and Screening Advances.

Background/objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with prognosis and treatment outcomes that are significantly influenced by the stage at diagnosis. Early detection through regular surveillance is crucial for improving patient outcomes, especially in high-risk groups such as those with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B. Geographic variations in HCC risk factors, including viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), have led to the development of different international surveillance guidelines.

Clinical and economic outcomes with rivaroxaban versus warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea: retrospective analysis of US healthcare claims.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are often comorbid and associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke. We evaluated the effectiveness, safety, healthcare resource utilization, and costs of rivaroxaban versus warfarin in patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF) and comorbid OSA.

Methods: We used the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus adjudicated claims database to evaluate patients with NVAF, OSA, and moderate-to-severe stroke risk who initiated rivaroxaban or warfarin between November 2011 and December 2022.

Overcoming therapeutic inertia in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: Protocol of a randomized, quality improvement trial.

Therapeutic inertia, the delay in the appropriate initiation and intensification of recommended therapies, is a major contributor to the lack of improvement in type 2 diabetes outcomes over the past decade. Therapeutic inertia during the period following diagnosis, when improvements in glycemic control can have lasting benefits, is often overlooked. Technology and team-based care approaches can effectively address therapeutic inertia.

MACULAR CHANGES IN ADULTS WITH HISTORY OF PREMATURE BIRTH.

Purpose: To characterize changes in the macular structure and vascularity seen in premature-birth adults.

Methods: Retrospective review of adult patients seen in the clinic from July 2018 to November 2020 with history of premature birth not requiring treatment for retinopathy of prematurity, as well as healthy controls. Swept-source ocular coherence tomography-angiography scans were analyzed for various parameters related to the macular structure and vascularity.

Tailoring amorphous boron nitride for high-performance two-dimensional electronics.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their atomically thin structure and unique electronic and optoelectronic properties. To harness their full potential for applications in next-generation electronics and photonics, precise control over the dielectric environment surrounding the 2D material is critical. The lack of nucleation sites on 2D surfaces to form thin, uniform dielectric layers often leads to interfacial defects that degrade the device performance, posing a major roadblock in the realization of 2D-based devices.

Treatment Patterns, Acute Healthcare Resource Use, and Costs of Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression Completing Induction Phase of Esketamine in the United States.

Background: This study aimed to understand treatment patterns, acute healthcare use, and cost patterns among adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who completed induction treatment with esketamine nasal spray in the United States (US). Per label, induction is defined as administration twice a week for 4 weeks, after which maintenance is started on a weekly basis for 4 weeks, and thereafter, patients are treated weekly or bimonthly.

Methods: Adults with one or more esketamine claim (index date) on or after March 5, 2019 were selected from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database (January 2016-June 2022).

Prediction of cardiovascular and renal risk among patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension in the United States using machine learning methods.

Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH), defined as blood pressure (BP) that remains uncontrolled despite unconfirmed concurrent treatment with three antihypertensives, is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and renal complications compared with controlled hypertension. We aimed to identify the characteristics of aTRH patients with an elevated risk of major adverse cardiovascular events plus (MACE+; defined as stroke, myocardial infarction, or heart failure hospitalization) and end stage renal disease (ESRD). This retrospective cohort study included aTRH patients (BP ≥140/90 mmHg and taking ≥3 antihypertensives) from the United States-based Optum de-identified Electronic Health Record dataset and used machine learning models to identify risk factors of MACE+ or ESRD.

Real-World Impact of Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Apparent Treatment-Resistant or Difficult-to-Control Hypertension and Stages 3 and 4 Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common comorbidity in patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH). We assessed clinical outcomes, healthcare resource utilization events, and costs in patients with aTRH or difficult-to-control hypertension and stage 3-4 CKD with uncontrolled vs. controlled BP.

High-density stable glasses formed on soft substrates.

Enabled by surface-mediated equilibration, physical vapour deposition can create high-density stable glasses comparable with liquid-quenched glasses aged for millions of years. Deposition is often performed at various rates and temperatures on rigid substrates to control the glass properties. Here we demonstrate that on soft, rubbery substrates, surface-mediated equilibration is enhanced up to 170 nm away from the interface, forming stable glasses with densities up to 2.

Combined Experimental and Computational Insight into the Role of Substrate in the Synthesis of Two-Dimensional WSe.

Synthesis of large-area transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with controlled orientation is a significant challenge to their industrial applications. Substrate plays a vital role in determining the final quality of monolayer materials grown via the chemical vapor deposition process by controlling their orientation, crystal structure, and grain boundary. This study determined the binding energy and equilibrium distance for tungsten diselenide (WSe) monolayers on crystalline and amorphous silicon dioxide and aluminum dioxide substrates.

Rapid and Quantitative Functional Interrogation of Human Enhancer Variant Activity in Live Mice.

Functional analysis of non-coding variants associated with human congenital disorders remains challenging due to the lack of efficient models. Here we introduce dual-enSERT, a robust Cas9-based two-color fluorescent reporter system which enables rapid, quantitative comparison of enhancer allele activities in live mice of any genetic background. We use this new technology to examine and measure the gain- and loss-of-function effects of enhancer variants linked to limb polydactyly, autism, and craniofacial malformation.

Functional analysis of genes support roles for and as master regulators of sex determination.

The Salicaceae family is of growing interest in the study of dioecy in plants because the sex determination region (SDR) has been shown to be highly dynamic, with differing locations and heterogametic systems between species. Without the ability to transform and regenerate in tissue culture, previous studies investigating the mechanisms regulating sex in the genus have been limited to genome resequencing and differential gene expression, which are mostly descriptive in nature, and functional validation of candidate sex determination genes has not yet been conducted. Here, we used Arabidopsis to functionally characterize a suite of previously identified candidate genes involved in sex determination and sex dimorphism in the bioenergy shrub willow .

Poor Sleep Quality Increases Gestational Weight Gain Rate in Pregnant People: Findings from the MADRES Study.

Background: Poor sleep quality is associated with weight gain in non-pregnant populations, but evidence in pregnant people is lacking. Our study examined the association between early-to-mid pregnancy sleep quality and weekly gestational weight gain (GWG) rate during mid-to-late pregnancy by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI).

Method: Participants were 316 pregnant participants from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) study.

Genome-scale phylogeny and comparative genomics of the fungal order Sordariales.

The order Sordariales is taxonomically diverse, and harbours many species with different lifestyles and large economic importance. Despite its importance, a robust genome-scale phylogeny, and associated comparative genomic analysis of the order is lacking. In this study, we examined whole-genome data from 99 Sordariales, including 52 newly sequenced genomes, and seven outgroup taxa.

Biophysical Profiling of Sickle Cell Disease Using Holographic Cytometry and Deep Learning.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hematological disorder associated with high mortality rates, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. SCD arises due to the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin, which reduces flexibility of red blood cells (RBCs), causing blood vessel occlusion and leading to severe morbidity and early mortality rates if untreated. While sickle solubility tests are available to sub-Saharan African population as a means for detecting sickle hemoglobin (HbS), the test falls short in assessing the severity of the disease and visualizing the degree of cellular deformation.

Fabrication of p-type 2D single-crystalline transistor arrays with Fermi-level-tuned van der Waals semimetal electrodes.

High-performance p-type two-dimensional (2D) transistors are fundamental for 2D nanoelectronics. However, the lack of a reliable method for creating high-quality, large-scale p-type 2D semiconductors and a suitable metallization process represents important challenges that need to be addressed for future developments of the field. Here, we report the fabrication of scalable p-type 2D single-crystalline 2H-MoTe transistor arrays with Fermi-level-tuned 1T'-phase semimetal contact electrodes.

Degradation of amyloid beta species by multi-copper oxidases.

Reduction of the production of amyloid beta (Aβ) species has been intensively investigated as potential therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the degradation of Aβ species, another potential beneficial approach, has been far less explored. In this study, we discovered that ceruloplasmin (CP), an important multi-copper oxidase (MCO) in human blood, could degrade Aβ peptides.

Association of uncontrolled blood pressure in apparent treatment-resistant hypertension with increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events plus.

Patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) are at increased risk of end-organ damage and cardiovascular events. Little is known about the effects of blood pressure (BP) control in this population. Using a national claims database integrated with electronic medical records, the authors evaluated the relationships between uncontrolled BP (UBP; ≥130/80 mmHg) or controlled BP (CBP; <130/80 mmHg) and risk of major adverse cardiovascular events plus (MACE+; stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure requiring hospitalization) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in adult patients with aTRH (taking ≥3 antihypertensive medication classes concurrently within 30 days between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2021).