Association of Obesity and Skeletal Muscle with Postoperative Survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background A comprehensive assessment of skeletal muscle health is crucial to understanding the association between improved clinical outcomes and obesity as defined by body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in lung cancer, but limited studies have been conducted on this topic. Purpose To investigate the association between BMI-defined obesity and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent curative resection, with a specific focus on the status of skeletal muscle assessed at CT. Materials and Methods This retrospective study investigated Korean patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent curative resection between January 2008 and December 2019.

Bioprinting approaches in cardiac tissue engineering to reproduce blood-pumping heart function.

The heart, with its complex structural and functional characteristics, plays a critical role in sustaining life by pumping blood throughout the entire body to supply nutrients and oxygen. Engineered heart tissues have been introduced to reproduce heart functions to understand the pathophysiological properties of the heart and to test and develop potential therapeutics. Although numerous studies have been conducted in various fields to increase the functionality of heart tissue to be similar to reality, there are still many difficulties in reproducing the blood-pumping function of the heart.

Encorafenib, cetuximab and chemotherapy in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial.

Encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) is approved for previously treated BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on the BEACON phase 3 study. Historically, first-line treatment of BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC with chemotherapy regimens has had limited efficacy. The phase 3 BREAKWATER study investigated EC+mFOLFOX6 versus standard of care (SOC) in patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E mCRC.

Explainable vision transformer for automatic visual sleep staging on multimodal PSG signals.

Polysomnography (PSG) is crucial for diagnosing sleep disorders, but manual scoring of PSG is time-consuming and subjective, leading to high variability. While machine-learning models have improved PSG scoring, their clinical use is hindered by the 'black-box' nature. In this study, we present SleepXViT, an automatic sleep staging system using Vision Transformer (ViT) that provides intuitive, consistent explanations by mimicking human 'visual scoring'.

Investigation of Novel Aronia Bioactive Fraction-Alginic Acid Nanocomplex on the Enhanced Modulation of Neuroinflammation and Inhibition of Aβ Aggregation.

Background/objectives: Aronia extract or its active compounds, especially anthocyanin, have shown potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathologies, including neuroinflammation, fibrillogenesis of amyloid beta (Aβ), and cognitive impairment. However, there was still concern about their structural instability in vivo and in vitro. To solve the instability of anthocyanins, we combined aronia bioactive factions (ABFs) and alginic acid via electrostatic molecular interactions and created an ABF-alginic acid nanocomplex (AANCP).

Crystal Structure and Photoluminescence Properties of Ca(PO):Eu Phosphors With High Emission Efficiency.

The influence of Eu concentration on the crystal structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties of Ca(PO):xEu (0.06 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) phosphors is systematically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and PL spectroscopy.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced comprehensive assessment of the aortic valve stenosis continuum in echocardiography.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary modality for diagnosing aortic stenosis (AS), yet it requires skilled operators and can be resource-intensive. We developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for evaluating AS that is effective in both resource-limited and advanced settings.

Methods: We created a dual-pathway AI system for AS evaluation using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset (developmental dataset, n = 8427): 1) a deep learning (DL)-based AS continuum assessment algorithm using limited 2D TTE videos, and 2) automating conventional AS evaluation.

Acetogenesis to ethanologenesis: facilitating NADH oxidation via reductive acetate uptake.

(Homo)acetogens, including Clostridium spp., represent an enigma in metabolic flexibility and diversity. Eubacterium callanderi KIST612 is an acetogen that produces n-butyrate with carbon monoxide (CO) as the carbon and energy source; however, the production route is unknown.

Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic involved business closures (e.g., gyms), social distancing policies, and prolonged stressful situations that may have impacted engagement in health behaviors.

Fertility journey of a patient with McCune-Albright syndrome associated with bilateral ovarian involvement.

Objective: To report a patient with McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) with bilateral ovarian involvement who had achieved a pregnancy through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: Case report.

Setting: Academic fertility center.

Elevated IL-6 Expression in Autologous Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Regulates RANKL Mediated Inflammation in Osteoarthritis.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to play a pivotal role in modulating cartilage regeneration and immune responses, particularly in the context of diseases that involve both degenerative processes and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis (OA). However, the precise mechanism through which IL-6 and other immune-regulatory factors influence the therapeutic efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) transplantation in OA treatment remains to be fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the relationship between IL-6 expression in autologous ASCs isolated from OA patients and their impact on immune modulation, particularly focusing on the regulation of Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa-Β Ligand (RANKL), a key mediator of immune-driven cartilage degradation in OA.

The Role of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate in Mitigating the Inflammatory and Metabolic Consequences of Uric Acid.

Uric acid (UA), a metabolite of purine and fructose metabolism, is linked to inflammation and metabolic disorders, including gout and cardiovascular disease. Its pro-inflammatory effects are largely driven by the activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, leading to increased cytokine production. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone produced during fasting or carbohydrate restriction, has been shown to reduce inflammation.

RibMR - A Mixed Reality Visualization System for Rib Fracture Localization in Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures: Phantom, Preclinical, and Clinical Studies.

In surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF), the current standard relies on preoperative CT imaging and often incorporates ultrasound (US) imaging. As an alternative, mixed reality (MR) technology holds promise for improving rib fracture localization. This study presents an MR-based visualization system designed for SSRF in a clinical setting.

CycloZ Suppresses TLR4-Driven Inflammation to Reduce Asthma-Like Responses in HDM-Exposed Mouse Models.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and narrowing, with a risk of life-threatening attacks. Most current treatments primarily consist of inhalable steroids, which are not without adverse effects. Recently, there has been growing interest in alternative approaches to asthma management.

Consensus Report on the Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes.

This report represents the conclusions of 15 experts in nephrology and endocrinology, based on their knowledge of key studies and evidence in the field, on the role of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those receiving dialysis. The experts discussed issues related to CGM accuracy, indications, education, clinical outcomes, quality of life, research gaps, and barriers to dissemination. Three main goals of management for patients with CKD and diabetes were identified: (1) greater use of CGMs for better glycemic monitoring and management, (2) further research evaluating the accuracy, feasibility, outcomes, and potential value of CGMs in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on hemodialysis, and (3) equitable access to CGM technology for patients with CKD.

Integrated molecular and functional characterization of the intrinsic apoptotic machinery identifies therapeutic vulnerabilities in glioma.

Genomic profiling often fails to predict therapeutic outcomes in cancer. This failure is, in part, due to a myriad of genetic alterations and the plasticity of cancer signaling networks. Functional profiling, which ascertains signaling dynamics, is an alternative method to anticipate drug responses.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum KBL674 Alleviates Vaginal Candidiasis.

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the primary etiologic agent of vaginal candidiasis. Lactobacillus species are predominant in the vaginal microbiome; they inhibit the development of vaginal candidiasis by producing antimicrobial agents, such as lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

A Phase II Study of Acimtamig (AFM13) in Patients with CD30-Positive, Relapsed, or Refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas.

Purpose: Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) generally have poor prognoses and limited treatment options. This study evaluated the efficacy of a novel CD30/CD16A bispecific innate cell engager, acimtamig (AFM13), in patients with R/R PTCL.

Patients And Methods: Patients included those with CD30 expression in ≥1% of tumor cells and who were R/R following ≥1 prior line of systemic therapy.

Oncolytic immunotherapy with nivolumab in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a phase 1b trial.

There is a critical unmet need for safe and efficacious neoadjuvant treatment for cisplatin-ineligible patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Here we launched a phase 1b study using the combination of intravesical cretostimogene grenadenorepvec (oncolytic serotype 5 adenovirus encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) with systemic nivolumab in cisplatin-ineligible patients with cT2-4aN0-1M0 muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The primary objective was to measure safety, and the secondary objective was to assess the anti-tumor efficacy as measured by pathologic complete response along with 1-year recurrence-free survival.

Simultaneous Analysis of 504 Pesticide Multiresidues in Crops Using UHPLC-QTOF at MS and MS Levels.

A robust analytical method was developed for the simultaneous detection of 504 pesticide multiresidues in various crops using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF). The method integrates both MS and MS levels through sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH) analysis, allowing for accurate mass measurements and the construction of a spectral library to enhance pesticide residue identification. An evaluation of the method was carried out according to international standards, including the FAO guidelines and SANTE/11312/2021.

Outcomes of Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment for Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Single Center Experience.

Purpose: To describe the outcomes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) at a single tertiary care center.

Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Medical records of all patients diagnosed with CRAO who received HBOT at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2020 were reviewed to confirm diagnosis, time from onset to presentation, exam findings, treatments, and follow-up data.