Association between CT-based body composition assessment and patient outcomes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the body composition of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), identify factors associated with sarcopenia at diagnosis, and evaluate the impact of pretreatment sarcopenia and changes in body composition parameters during therapy on perioperative and disease-related outcomes.

Methods: Patients undergoing NACT for EOC between 2008 and 2020 were identified. Pre-treatment and post-treatment contrast-enhanced CT scans were reviewed to determine skeletal muscle index (SMI) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area at the mid-fourth lumbar vertebral level.

Unveiling characteristic proteins for the structural development of beetle elytra.

Beetles possess a set of highly modified and tanned forewings, elytra, which are lightweight yet rigid and tough. Immediately after eclosion, the elytra are initially thin, pale and soft. However, they rapidly expand and subsequently become hardened and often dark, resulting from both pigmentation and sclerotization.

An iPad-based intervention to improve visual-motor, visual-attention, and visual-perceptual skills in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus: A pilot study.

Purpose: Develop and pilot an iPad-based intervention for improving visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention in children with surgically treated hydrocephalus (HCP).

Methods: We developed an intervention protocol targeting visual-motor coordination, visual-spatial processing/reasoning, and visual attention. Fourteen participants with HCP completed 30 h of training over 6 weeks.