Incorporating Circulating Tumor DNA Testing Into Clinical Trials: A Position Paper by the National Cancer Institute GI Oncology Circulating Tumor DNA Working Group.

Purpose: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging tool in the evaluation of GI cancers. Challenges remain in defining its utility and role as a primary end point in therapeutic trials. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) ctDNA GI working group was created to evaluate current data and provide guidance on the inclusion of ctDNA in GI cancer trials.

Undisplaced transcervical femoral neck stress fracture in a recreational runner: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: Femoral neck stress fractures (FNSFs) are rare injuries, particularly in middle-aged recreational runners, and pose significant diagnostic challenges. Despite their low incidence, early detection and appropriate management are crucial to prevent serious complications such as displacement or avascular necrosis.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old male runner presented with progressive right hip pain, exacerbated by activity and relieved by rest.

Comprehensive profiling and risk assessment of antibiotic resistomes in surface water and plastisphere by integrated shotgun metagenomics.

The ever-increasing microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic ecosystems has become a serious global challenging issue. However, the impact of different pollution sources on microbiome and antibiotic resistome in surface water (SW) and plastisphere (PS) remains largely elusive. Here, shotgun metagenomics was used to analyze microbiome structure and antibiotic resistome in SW and PS under the influence of different pollution sources.

Biological monitoring of soil pollution caused by two different zinc species using earthworms.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are commonly used in both commercial and agricultural sectors. As a result, ZnO-NPs are extensively discharged into soil ecosystems, creating a significant environmental issue. Therefore, it is crucial to assess their influence on the soil ecology to ensure its secure and enduring utilization in the future.

Mesothelin expression correlates with elevated inhibitory immune activity in patients with colorectal cancer.

The expression of the protein Mesothelin (MSLN) is highly variable in several malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and high levels are associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and worse patient survival. Colorectal cancer is both a common and deadly cancer; being the third most common in incidence and second most common cause of cancer-related death. While systemic therapy remains the primary therapeutic option for most patients with stage IV (metastatic; m) CRC, their disease eventually becomes treatment refractory, and 85% succumb within 5 years.

Combination of ionizing radiation and 2-thio-6-azauridine induces cell death in radioresistant triple negative breast cancer cells by downregulating CD151 expression.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and is frequently resistant to therapy, ultimately resulting in treatment failure. Clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of sensitizing radiation therapy (RT)-resistant TNBC through the combination of chemotherapy and RT. This study sought to explore the potential of CD151 as a therapy response marker in the co-treatment strategy involving ionizing radiation (IR) and the repurposed antiviral drug 2-Thio-6-azauridine (TAU) for sensitizing RT-resistant TNBC (TNBC/RR).

Association between frailty and overall survival among older adults with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Older adults undergoing cancer treatment often experience more treatment-related toxicities and increased risk of mortality compared to younger patients. The role of frailty among older individuals as a predictor of outcomes has gained growing significance. We evaluated the association between frailty and overall survival (OS) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≥60 years.

Compartment syndrome of arm secondary to snake bite on hand: a case report.

Introduction: Snake bites pose a significant common public health concern, with more prevalence in rural areas. Compartment syndrome (CS) is one of the rare and severe manifestations of snake bite wherein venom-induced swelling within a closed anatomical compartment leads to increased pressure, which may result in ischemic damage to nerves and muscle. Antisnake venom and prompt fasciotomy is recommended for management of CS secondary to snake bite.

Association of personalized and tumor-informed ctDNA with patient survival outcomes in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Personalized and tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing is feasible and allows for molecular residual disease (MRD) identification in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of commercial cases from multiple US institutions, personalized, tumor-informed, whole-exome sequenced, and germline-controlled ctDNA levels were quantified and analyzed in patients with PDAC. Plasma samples (n = 1329) from 298 clinically validated patients were collected at diagnosis, perioperatively (MRD-window; within 2-12 weeks after surgery, before therapy), and during surveillance (>12 weeks post-surgery if no ACT or starting 4 weeks post-ACT) from November 2019 to March 2023.

Re-vitalizing wastewater: Nutrient recovery and carbon capture through microbe-algae synergy using omics-biology.

Increasing amounts of wastewater is the most pervasive and challenging environmental problem globally. Conventional treatment methods are costly and entail huge energy, carbon consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Owing to their unique ability of carbon capturing and resource recovery, microalgae-microbiome based treatment is a potential approach and is widely used for carbon-neutral wastewater treatment.

Post-operative Surveillance and Management of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Using Circulating Tumor DNA: A Case Report.

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are a subclass of biliary tract tumors that arise from the epithelial lining of bile ducts. They are subdivided broadly into intra- and extrahepatic CCA, with extrahepatic being the more common. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a form of liquid biopsy obtained from dying tumor cells in the peripheral blood.

Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) Clearance May Predict Treatment Response in Neoadjuvant Colorectal Cancer Management.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is extracellular DNA released by tumors and has been proposed as a marker of residual disease as well as a predictor of disease recurrence in the adjuvant setting. However, data are lacking on the utility of this biomarker in the neoadjuvant setting. We performed a retrospective study of stage III and IV colorectal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment at a single institution.

Metagenomics insights into microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes from free living amoeba in chlorinated wastewater effluents.

Free living amoeba (FLA) are among the organisms commonly found in wastewater and are well-established hosts for diverse microbial communities. Despite its clinical significance, there is little knowledge on the FLA microbiome and resistome, with previous studies relying mostly on conventional approaches. In this study we comprehensively analyzed the microbiome, antibiotic resistome and virulence factors (VFs) within FLA isolated from final treated effluents of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using shotgun metagenomics.

Lipopeptides from Bacillus: unveiling biotechnological prospects-sources, properties, and diverse applications.

Bacillus sp. has proven to be a goldmine of diverse bioactive lipopeptides, finding wide-range of industrial applications. This review highlights the importance of three major families of lipopeptides (iturin, fengycin, and surfactin) produced by Bacillus sp.

Recent Advances in the Management of Anal Cancer.

The incidence and mortality of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is on the rise, which highlights the unmet need for advances in treatment options. The landscape of treatment for this cancer is rapidly evolving with novel combination strategies including immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biomarker-guided therapy. This review article features an overview of recent advancements in both locoregional and metastatic SCCA.

Peptides disrupting TM4SF3 interaction with AR or AR-V7 block prostate cancer cell proliferation.

Androgen receptor (AR) plays a vital role in the development and progression of prostate cancer from the primary stage to the usually lethal stage known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Constitutively active AR splice variants (AR-Vs) lacking the ligand-binding domain are partially responsible for the abnormal activation of AR and may be involved in resistance to AR-targeting drugs occurring in CRPC. There is increasing consensus on the potential of drugs targeting protein-protein interactions.

Arthroscopic Debridement for Mucoid Degeneration of Anterior Cruciate Ligament - A Single Institution Experience from Nepal.

Background Mucoid degeneration of anterior cruciate ligament is characterized by infiltration of mucoid-like material scattered throughout the anterior cruciate ligament substance. It is an uncommon condition, but previously, underdiagnosed or often misdiagnosed as an anterior cruciate ligament tear. Objective To present our early experiences with mucoid degeneration of anterior cruciate ligament in last five years in terms of clinical presentation and the outcomes of arthroscopic management.

The cytoplasmic tail of the mechanosensitive channel Pkd2 regulates its internalization and clustering in eisosomes.

Polycystins are a family of conserved ion channels, mutations of which lead to one of the most common human genetic disorders, namely, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Schizosacchromyces pombe possesses an essential polycystin homologue, Pkd2, which directs Ca2+ influx on the cell surface in response to membrane tension, but its structure remains unsolved. Here, we analyzed the structure-function relationship of Pkd2 based on its AlphaFold-predicted structure.

GC-MS based untargeted metabolomics reveals the metabolic response of earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) after chronic combinatorial exposure to three different pesticides.

In this study GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics was used to identify the metabolic response of earthworm; Eudrilus eugeniae exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos-CHL, cypermethrin-CYP, Glyphosate-GLY, and Combined-C (all three pesticides) at the concentrations of 3, 6, and 12 mg/kg. Principal component analysis of the obtained datasets revealed a clear distinction between the control and treatment groups. The mean weight of the worms in the treated groups decreased significantly (p < 0.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging among Patients Undergoing Arthroscopy in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Magnetic Resonance Imaging is the preferred imaging modality in patients having anterior cruciate ligament tears. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament tears using magnetic resonance imaging among patients undergoing arthroscopy in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of a tertiary care centre.

Defining the Optimal Duration of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Time for a Personalized Approach?

Despite recent advances, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to be associated with dismal outcomes, with a cure evading most patients. While historic treatment for PDAC has been surgical resection followed by 6 months of adjuvant therapy, there has been a recent shift toward neoadjuvant treatment (NAT). Several considerations support this approach, including the characteristic early systemic spread of PDAC, and the morbidity often surrounding pancreatic resection, which can delay recovery and preclude patients from starting adjuvant treatment.