Sotatercept: A New Era in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by proliferative remodeling and obliterative narrowing of the pulmonary vasculature. While outcomes have improved with existing treatments targeting 3 main pathways, there remains a critical need for novel therapies that address different and novel mechanisms of PAH. Sotatercept, recently Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, is a groundbreaking fusion protein that binds to activin and growth differentiation factors, rebalancing antiproliferative and pro-proliferative signals to reverse remodeling in both the pulmonary vasculature and the right ventricle.

Phase Ib/II study of imprime PGG and pembrolizumab in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): BTCRC LUN 15-017.

Background: Therapeutic strategies to engage anti-tumor innate immunity are still underdeveloped. Imprime PGG (imprime), a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), through pattern recognition receptors, successfully illicit a broad-based innate immune response in preclinical models against various cancers. We aimed to study safety and efficacy of imprime in combination with pembrolizumab in advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Safety and Tolerability of Letetresgene Autoleucel (Lete-cel; GSK3377794): Pilot Studies in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor response of lete-cel, genetically modified autologous T-cells expressing a T-cell receptor specific for NY-ESO-1/LAGE-1a shared epitope, alone or in combination with pembrolizumab, in human leukocyte antigen HLA-A*02-positive (HLA-A*02:01-, HLA-A*02:05-, and/or HLA-A*02:06-) patients with New York esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1)- and/or LAGE-1a-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Experimental Design: Study 208749 was a single-arm study of lete-cel alone. Study 208471 was a multi-arm study of lete-cel alone or in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced or recurrent NSCLC.

Toward quantitative thermoelectric characterization of (nano)materials by in-situ transmission electron microscopy.

We explore the possibility to perform an in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) thermoelectric characterization of materials. A differential heating element on a custom in-situ TEM microchip allows to generate a temperature gradient across the studied materials, which are simultaneously measured electrically. A thermovoltage was induced in all studied devices, whose sign corresponds to the sign of the Seebeck coefficient of the tested materials.

Call for elimination program of Malaria among children under 5 years old living in refugee camps in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Malaria is a significant public health challenge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), with a high prevalence and mortality rate, particularly among children under five years old. This study examines the impact of malaria in eastern DR Congo, where armed conflict and humanitarian crises have resulted in overcrowded refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, exacerbating malaria transmission. Malnutrition, limited access to healthcare, and poor living conditions makes children under the age of five particularly vulnerable.

Re-emergence of vaccine-derived polio in the demographic Republic of Congo: Causes and consequences.

Poliovirus is a deadly disease that needs to be eradicated in the world. Recently, issues with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been raised in the country. This article aims to determine the increase in Type 1 cVDPV1 and Type 2 cVDPV2 in the DRC.

Tenascin-C in the early lung cancer tumor microenvironment promotes progression through integrin αvβ1 and FAK.

Pre-cancerous lung lesions are commonly initiated by activating mutations in the RAS pathway, but do not transition to lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) without additional oncogenic signals. Here, we show that expression of the extracellular matrix protein Tenascin-C (TNC) is increased in and promotes the earliest stages of LUAD development in oncogenic KRAS-driven lung cancer mouse models and in human LUAD. TNC is initially expressed by fibroblasts and its expression extends to tumor cells as the tumor becomes invasive.

An ILK/STAT3 pathway controls glioblastoma stem cell plasticity.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is driven by malignant neural stem-like cells that display extensive heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity, which drive tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Here, we show that the extracellular matrix-cell adhesion protein integrin-linked kinase (ILK) stimulates phenotypic plasticity and mesenchymal-like, invasive behavior in a murine GBM stem cell model. ILK is required for the interconversion of GBM stem cells between malignancy-associated glial-like states, and its loss produces cells that are unresponsive to multiple cell state transition cues.

A Phase I First-in-Human Study of ABBV-011, a Seizure-Related Homolog Protein 6-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Seizure-related homolog protein 6 (SEZ6) is a novel target expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). ABBV-011, a SEZ6-targeted antibody conjugated to calicheamicin, was evaluated in a phase I study (NCT03639194) in patients with relapsed/refractory SCLC. We report initial outcomes of ABBV-011 monotherapy.

Precoder Design for Network Massive MIMO Optical Wireless Communications.

Precoding is a technique employed to enhance transmission rates in various communication systems, including massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and optical wireless communication (OWC). In this study, we focus on network massive MIMO OWC (NM-MIMO-OWC) systems and investigate the precoder design to enhance the sum rate and improve the system performance. We present the network's massive MIMO OWC framework.

Phase II study of nab-paclitaxel with gemcitabine for relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer.

Background: Patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) often respond to first-line chemoimmunotherapy. However, relapse is inevitable and is associated with a poor prognosis. Treatments for relapsed SCLC, such as lurbinectedin and topotecan, are limited by modest efficacy and significant hematologic adverse events, leaving a need for newer therapeutic agents or regimens.

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in predicting all-cause mortality in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models to generate individualised risk assessments and predict patient outcomes post-Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) has been a topic of increasing relevance in literature. This study aims to evaluate the predictive accuracy of AI algorithms in forecasting post-TAVI mortality as compared to traditional risk scores.

Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) standard, a systematic review was carried out.

Somatic loss-of-function mutations in lung squamous cell carcinoma: a single-center cohort study.

Background: The significant progress has been made in targeted therapy for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in the past decade. Only few targeted therapeutics have yet been approved for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Several higher frequency of gene alterations are identified as potentially actionable in LUSC.

Superoxide Dismutase Mimetic Avasopasem Manganese Enhances Radiation Therapy Effectiveness in Soft Tissue Sarcomas and Accelerates Wound Healing.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are mesenchymal malignant lesions that develop in soft tissues. Despite current treatments, including radiation therapy (RT) and surgery, STSs can be associated with poor patient outcomes and metastatic recurrences. Neoadjuvant radiation therapy (nRT), while effective, is often accompanied by severe postoperative wound healing complications due to damage to the surrounding normal tissues.

Beyond clinical trials: real-world impact of immunotherapy on NSCLC in Jordan.

Background: This study aims to evaluate real-world (rw) outcomes of immunotherapy (IO) for advanced stage NSCLC at King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Jordan.

Methods: Advanced stage NSCLC patients who received IO at KHCC between 2017 and 2022 were included. The data were retrospectively collected.

Maternal and Infant Dietary Patterns Are Not Related to Food Allergy Risk in Singapore Children: GUSTO Cohort Study.

Background: We previously reported that delayed allergenic food introduction in infancy did not increase food allergy risk until age 4 y within our prospective cohort. However, it remains unclear whether other aspects of maternal or infant diet play roles in the development of childhood food allergy.

Objectives: We examined the relationship between maternal pregnancy and infant dietary patterns and the development of food allergies until age 8 y.

Pemigatinib in previously treated solid tumors with activating FGFR1-FGFR3 alterations: phase 2 FIGHT-207 basket trial.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) alterations drive oncogenesis in multiple tumor types. Here we studied pemigatinib, a selective, potent, oral FGFR1-FGFR3 inhibitor, in the phase 2 FIGHT-207 basket study of FGFR-altered advanced solid tumors. Primary end points were objective response rate (ORR) in cohorts A (fusions/rearrangements, n = 49) and B (activating non-kinase domain mutations, n = 32).

The effects of COVID-19 on agriculture supply chain, food security, and environment: a review.

COVID-19 has a deep impact on the economic, environmental, and social life of the global population. Particularly, it disturbed the entire agriculture supply chain due to a shortage of labor, travel restrictions, and changes in demand during lockdowns. Consequently, the world population faced food insecurity due to a reduction in food production and booming food prices.

Effectiveness of standard treatments in non-small-cell lung cancer with METexon14 skipping mutation: a real-world study.

To assess real-world clinical outcomes with standard therapies for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) with METexon14 skipping mutation (METex14). In an oncologists-led retrospective review of medical records, data were abstracted and analyzed for patients initiating first-line (1L) systemic therapy after 1 January 2017. In total 287 aNSCLC patients with METex14, the real-world best overall response rate was 73.