Bubbling insights: unveiling the true sophorolipid biosynthetic pathway by Starmerella bombicola.

Background: The yeast Starmerella bombicola is renowned for its highly efficient sophorolipid production, reaching titers and productivities of (over) 200 g/L and 2 g/(L h), respectively. This inherent efficiency has led to the commercialization of sophorolipids. While the sophorolipid biosynthetic pathway has been elucidated a few years ago, in this study, it is revisited and true key intermediates are revealed.

Ga68-PSMA PET for lymph node staging in intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer patients undergoing robotic assisted radical prostatectomy.

Background: In intermediate/high risk prostate cancer, preoperative staging exams are mandatory. The aim of these imaging studies is to evaluate eventual lymph nodes involvement and/or metastatic spread of the tumor. Nevertheless, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone scan modalities have controversial sensitivity.

Robust, fully quantifiable and scalable bioprocess utilizing spent sulfite liquor with Corynebacterium glutamicum.

In this study, a bioprocessing strategy was designed to valorize ultra-filtered spent sulfite liquor (UF-SSL) without prior detoxification steps as well as using it purely as a carbon source supplement to defined or complex media. Hence, a minimal medium for the bioconversion of UF-SSL with Corynebacterium glutamicum was developed and process robustness and reproducibility were validated. Process quantifiability was ensured by development of a biomass measurement technique for matrices with high water-insoluble solids and verified using elemental balancing.

Virtual Reality as a Method to Cope With Labor Pain: What Do Women Want?

This study aimed to determine what childbearing women want when using virtual reality as an intrapartum pain management method. Researchers performed a qualitative exploratory study using content analysis. Two focus groups were organized including pregnant women anticipating a vaginal birth and women who recently had given birth, no longer than 6 months ago.

Histological analysis of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in young healthy children.

Histological data on muscle fiber size and proportion in (very) young typically developing (TD) children is not well documented and data on capillarization and satellite cell content are also lacking. This study investigated the microscopic properties of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in growing TD children, grouped according to age and gender to provide normal reference values in healthy children. Microbiopsies of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle were collected in 46 TD boys and girls aged 2-10 years subdivided into 4 age groups (2-4, 4-6, 6-8 and 8-10 years).

Short-Term Effects of Botulinum Toxin-A Injection on the Medial Gastrocnemius Histological Features in Ambulant Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Pilot Study.

Botulinum toxin-A (BoNT-A) injection is known to exert beneficial effects on muscle tone, joint mobility and gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP). However, recent animal and human studies have raised the concern that BoNT-A might be harmful to muscle integrity. In CP-children, the impact of BoNT-A on muscle structure has been poorly studied, and inconsistent results have been reported.

Clinical application of machine learning models in patients with prostate cancer before prostatectomy.

Background: To build machine learning predictive models for surgical risk assessment of extracapsular extension (ECE) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) before radical prostatectomy; and to compare the use of decision curve analysis (DCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) metrics for selecting input feature combinations in models.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included two independent data sets: 139 participants from a single institution (training), and 55 from 15 other institutions (external validation), both treated with Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP). Five ML models, based on different combinations of clinical, semantic (interpreted by a radiologist) and radiomics features computed from T2W-MRI images, were built to predict extracapsular extension in the prostatectomy specimen (pECE+).

Histological analysis of the gastrocnemius muscle in preschool and school age children with cerebral palsy compared with age-matched typically developing children.

Inconsistent alterations in skeletal muscle histology have been reported in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and whether alterations are present in young children and differ from older children is not yet known. This study aimed to define histological alterations in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) of ambulant CP (gross-motor classification system, GMFCS I-III) stratified in two age groups (preschool children, PS: 2-5 and school age children, SA: 6-9-yr old) compared with age-matched typically developing (TD) children. We hypothesized that alterations in muscle microscopic properties are already present in PS-CP and are GMFCS level specific.

RNA-sequencing based first choice of treatment and determination of risk in multiple myeloma.

Background: Immunotherapeutic targets in multiple myeloma (MM) have variable expression height and are partly expressed in subfractions of patients only. With increasing numbers of available compounds, strategies for appropriate choice of targets (combinations) are warranted. Simultaneously, risk assessment is advisable as patient's life expectancy varies between months and decades.

Fine-needle percutaneous muscle microbiopsy technique as a feasible tool to address histological analysis in young children with cerebral palsy and age-matched typically developing children.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a heterogeneous group of motor disorders attributed to a non-progressive lesion in the developing brain. Knowledge on skeletal muscle properties is important to understand the impact of CP and treatment but data at the microscopic levels are limited and inconsistent. Currently, muscle biopsies are collected during surgery and are restricted to CP eligible for such treatment or they may refer to another muscle or older children in typically developing (TD) biopsies.

Risk Biomarkers for Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer Using Clinical and MRI-Derived Semantic Features.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of the covariates derived from a predictive model for detecting extracapsular extension on pathology (pECE+) on biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS) within 4 years after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Methods: Retrospective data analysis was conducted from a single center between 2015 and 2022. Variables under consideration included prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, patient age, prostate volume, MRI semantic features, and Grade Group (GG).

Acute exercise performed before and after motor practice enhances the positive effects on motor memory consolidation.

Performing a single bout of exercise can enhance motor learning and long-term retention of motor skills. Parameters such as the intensity and when the exercise bout is performed in relation to skill practice (i.e.

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy in morbidly obese patients: a VCQI database study.

To compare perioperative outcomes following robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with morbid obesity (body mass index (BMI > 40 kg/m)) and non-obese patients. Using the Vattikuti Collective quality initiative (VCQI) database for RAPN, data for morbidly obese and non-obese patients was obtained. Propensity scores were calculated for two treatment groups (morbidly obese vs.

Breaking the silence on gendered harassment and assault of community health workers: an analysis of ethnographic studies.

Introduction: Across a variety of settings, women in tenuous financial circumstances are drawn to community health work as a way to advance themselves in the context of limited employment options. Female Community Health Workers (CHWs) are often preferred because they can more easily access mothers and children; at the same time, gender norms are at the heart of many of the challenges and inequities that these workers encounter. Here, we explore how these gender roles and a lack of formal worker protections leave CHWs vulnerable to violence and sexual harassment, common occurrences that are frequently downplayed or silenced.

Off-clamp Versus On-clamp Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy: A Propensity-matched Analysis.

Background: Partial nephrectomy is the preferred treatment option for the management of small renal masses. On-clamp partial nephrectomy is associated with a risk of ischemia and a greater loss of postoperative renal function, while the off-clamp procedure decreases the duration of renal ischemia, leading to better renal function preservation. However, the efficacy of the off- versus on-clamp partial nephrectomy for renal function preservation remains debatable.

Peripheral precocious puberty in Li-Fraumeni syndrome: a case report and literature review of pure androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors.

Introduction: Pure androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumors are a rare but important cause of peripheral precocious puberty.

Case Presentation: Here, we report a pure androgen-secreting adrenocortical tumor in a 2.5-year-old boy presenting with penile enlargement, pubic hair, frequent erections, and rapid linear growth.

Perioperative outcomes following robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for complex renal masses: A Vattikuti Collective Quality Initiative database study.

Introduction: Outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) depend on tumor complexity, surgeon experience and patient profile among other variables. We aimed to study the perioperative outcomes of RAPN for patients with complex renal masses using the Vattikuti Collective Quality Initiative (VCQI) database that allowed evaluation of multinational data.

Methods: From the VCQI, we extracted data for all the patients who underwent RAPN with preoperative aspects and dimensions used for an anatomical (PADUA) score of ≥10.

Early biomarkers of extracapsular extension of prostate cancer using MRI-derived semantic features.

Background: To construct a model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and histological and clinical variables for the prediction of pathology-detected extracapsular extension (pECE) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: We performed a prospective 3 T MRI study comparing the clinical and MRI data on pECE obtained from patients treated using robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) at our institution. The covariates under consideration were prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, the patient's age, prostate volume, and MRI interpretative features for predicting pECE based on the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2.

Genetic profiling of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells after expansion in clinical grade human platelet lysate.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are non-hematopoietic cells that have a broad therapeutic potential. To obtain sufficient cells for clinical application, they must be expanded . In the initial expansion protocols described, fetal calf serum (FCS) was used as the reference growth supplement, but more recently different groups started to replace FCS with platelet lysate (PL).