Clinical state and future directions of stem cell therapy in stroke rehabilitation.

Despite substantial advances in the acute management of stroke, it remains a leading cause of adult disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, the reperfusion modalities thrombolysis and thrombectomy benefit only a fraction of patients in the hyperacute phase of ischemic stroke. Thus, with the exception of vagal nerve stimulation combined with intensive physical therapy, there are no approved neuroprotective/neurorestorative therapies for stroke survivors.

Oncologic Outcomes of Sequential Intravesical Gemcitabine and Docetaxel Compared with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in Patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background And Objective: Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with additional bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) may become unresponsive to BCG. Recently, sequential intravesical gemcitabine and docetaxel (gem/doce) are being used for NMIBC. This study aims to compare oncologic outcomes between sequential intravesical gem/doce versus additional BCG in patients with BCG-unresponsive NMIBC.

AMPK regulates the maintenance and remodelling of the neuromuscular junction.

Objective: The molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance and adaptability of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a key regulator of NMJ stability and plasticity.

Method: A comprehensive, multifaceted approach was employed, integrating genetic, physiological, and pharmacological methodologies to elucidate the role of skeletal muscle AMPK in modulating the neuromuscular synapse.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) predicts relapse free and overall survival in unresected locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Introduction: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a cytokine of the TGFβ family. Here, we analyzed GDF15 levels in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) who participated in OCOG-ALMERA (NCT02115464), a phase II randomized clinical trial, that investigated metformin in combination with standard of care concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT). OCOG-ALMERA was not able to demonstrate benefit in the metformin arm.

Early Neurosurgical Education in the Era of Distance Learning: Incorporating Virtual Reality and Cadaveric Specimen Demonstrations.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for neuroanatomy education of postgraduate medical trainees. However, its use in early training in neurosurgery, such as of undergraduate, medical, and physician assistant students, has not been evaluated. We also have limited insight into how VR may be integrated with traditional teaching methods.