Ultrasensitive ctDNA detection for preoperative disease stratification in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection can predict clinical risk in early-stage tumors. However, clinical applications are constrained by the sensitivity of clinically validated ctDNA detection approaches. NeXT Personal is a whole-genome-based, tumor-informed platform that has been analytically validated for ultrasensitive ctDNA detection at 1-3 ppm of ctDNA with 99.

Nanostructured lipid carriers based mRNA vaccine leads to a T cell-inflamed tumour microenvironment favourable for improving PD-1/PD-L1 blocking therapy and long-term immunity in a cold tumour model.

Background: mRNA-based cancer vaccines show promise in triggering antitumour immune responses. To combine them with existing immunotherapies, the intratumoral immune microenvironment needs to be deeply characterised. Here, we test nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), the so-called Lipidots®, for delivering unmodified mRNA encoding Ovalbumin (OVA) antigen to elicit specific antitumour responses.

Ultra-sensitive, tumor-informed ctDNA profiling in pembrolizumab-treated esophagogastric cancer patients predicts clinical responses.

To explore whether ultra-sensitive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling enables early prediction of treatment response and early detection of disease progression, we applied NeXT Personal, an ultra-sensitive bespoke tumor-informed liquid biopsy platform, to profile tumor samples from the KeyLargo study, a phase II trial in which metastatic esophagogastric cancer (mEGC) patients received capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and pembrolizumab. All 25 patients evaluated were ctDNA-positive at baseline. Minimal residual disease (MRD) events varied from 406,067 down to 1.

Genetic diversity of dengue virus circulating in the Philippines (2014-2019) and comparison with dengue vaccine strains.

Dengue virus has four distinct serotypes and the genetic diversity within each of the four serotypes contribute to its complexity. An important aspect of dengue molecular evolutionary studies has been the dissection of the extent and structure of genetic variation among major genotypes within each serotype. It is important to understand the role of dengue genetic variability and its potential role and impact in the effectiveness of the dengue vaccine.

The dynamin-related protein PfDyn2 is essential for both apicoplast and mitochondrial fission in .

Dynamins, or dynamin-related proteins (DRPs), are large mechano-sensitive GTPases that mediate membrane dynamics or organellar fission/fusion events. encodes three dynamin-like proteins whose functions are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that one of these dynamin-related proteins, PfDyn2, is required to divide both the apicoplast and the mitochondrion, a striking divergence from the biology of related parasites.

Microclimatic effects of tree shelters on the early establishment and resilience of seeded acorns vs. outplanted seedlings.

Little is known about the effects of tree shelters on the early response of oak seedlings produced by acorn seeding. In this paper, we explore the effects on holm oak (Quercus ilex L. subsp.

Logistical challenges of CAR T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a survey of healthcare professionals.

Characterize the logistical challenges faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients and caregivers during the chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) treatment process for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. HCPs in the US and UK experienced with CAR T administration participated in interviews and completed a web-based survey. A total of 133 (80 US, 53 UK) HCPs participated.

Cerebrovascular Events in Patients Undergoing Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Pooled Patient-Level Study.

Background: Cerebrovascular events remain one of the most devastating complications of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Data from real-world contemporary cohorts on longitudinal trends and outcomes remain limited. The aim of this study was to assess incidence, temporal trends, predictors, and outcomes of cerebrovascular events following transfemoral TAVI.

Early identification of the nosocomial spread of vancomycin-resistant by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and performance comparison with PFGE and WGS.

Early detection of disseminating vancomycin-resistant (VREfm) in ICU wards is crucial for outbreak identification and the implementation of prompt infection control measures. Genotypic methods like pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) are costly and time-consuming, hindering rapid response due to batch dependency. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) offers the potential for real-time outbreak detection and reliable strain typing.

Cholinergic stimulation stabilizes TRPM4 in the plasma membrane of cortical pyramidal neurons.

TRPM4 is a calcium activated non-selective cation channel, impermeable to Ca, in neurons it has been implicated in the regulation of the excitability and in the persistent firing. Cholinergic stimulation is also implicated in changes in excitability that leads neurons to an increased firing frequency, however it is not clear whether TRPM4 is involved in the cholinergic-induced increase in firing frequency. Here using a combination of patch clamp electrophysiology, Ca imaging, immunofluorescence, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and pharmacological approach, we demonstrate that carbachol (Cch) increases firing frequency, intracellular Ca and that TRPM4 inhibition using 9-Ph and CBA reduces firing frequency and decreases the peak in intracellular Ca induced by Cch in cortical pyramidal neurons in culture.

Tethered IL15-IL15Rα augments antitumor activity of CD19 CAR-T cells but displays long-term toxicity in an immunocompetent lymphoma mouse model.

Background: Adoptive cell therapy using genetically modified T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T) has shown encouraging results, particularly in certain blood cancers. Nevertheless, over 40% of B cell malignancy patients experience a relapse after CAR-T therapy, likely due to inadequate persistence of the modified T cells in the body. IL15, known for its pro-survival and proliferative properties, has been suggested for incorporation into the fourth generation of CAR-T cells to enhance their persistence.

Improving the diagnosis of urinary tract infections by the use of enriched media and a 48-hour incubation period.

The absence of a gold-standard methodology for the microbiological diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTI) has led to insufficient standardization of criteria for the interpretation of results and processing methods, particularly incubation time and culture media. 48-hour incubation time period and use of blood agar enhances the sensitivity of microorganisms isolated significantly. To determine the sensitivity of blood agar and Brilliance UTI chromogenic agar, incubating for different periods (24-48 hours), for the detection of positive urine cultures.

Assessment of Segmentary Hypertrophy of Future Remnant Liver after Liver Venous Deprivation: A Single-Center Study.

: Liver venous deprivation (LVD) is a recent radiological technique that has shown promising results on Future Remnant Liver (FRL) hypertrophy. The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the segmentary hypertrophy of the FRL after LVD and after portal vein embolization (PVE). : Patients undergoing PVE or LVD between April 2015 and April 2020 were included.

Maf1 phosphorylation is regulated through the action of prefoldin-like Bud27 on PP4 phosphatase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Bud27 is a prefoldin-like protein that participates in transcriptional regulation mediated by the three RNA polymerases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Lack of Bud27 significantly affects RNA pol III transcription, although the involved mechanisms have not been characterized. Here, we show that Bud27 regulates the phosphorylation state of the RNA pol III transcriptional repressor, Maf1, influences its nuclear localization, and likely its activity.

Outbreak of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Health Service Education and Training Center, September 25-October 10, 2023.

In the last week of September 2023, a surge of influenza-like illness was observed among students of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Health Service Education and Training Center, where 48 (27 males and 21 females; age in years: mean 33, range 27-41) of 247 military students at the Center presented with respiratory symptoms. Between September 25 and October 10, 2023, all 48 symptomatic students were evaluated with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and sequencing for both influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Thirteen (27%) students were found positive for influenza A/H3 only, 6 (13%) for SARS-CoV-2 only, and 4 (8%) were co-infected with influenza A/H3 and SARS-CoV-2.

Bacteriuria and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing in 45 min by point-of-care Sysmex PA-100 System: first clinical evaluation.

Purpose: This study compared the results of the new Sysmex PA-100 AST System, a point-of-care analyser, with routine microbiology for the detection of urinary tract infections (UTI) and performance of antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) directly from urine.

Methods: Native urine samples from 278 female patients with suspected uncomplicated UTI were tested in the Sysmex PA-100 and with reference methods of routine microbiology: urine culture for bacteriuria and disc diffusion for AST.

Results: The analyser delivered bacteriuria results in 15 min and AST results within 45 min.

European validation of the classification for the anticipated difficulty of liver transplantation.

Background: Appropriate risk stratification for the difficulty of liver transplantation (LT) is essential to guide the selection and acceptance of grafts and avoid morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Based on 987 LTs collected from 5 centers, perioperative outcomes were analyzed across the 3 difficulty levels. Each LT was retrospectively scored from 0 to 10.

Comparing the in vitro efficacy of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine in the prevention of post-surgical endophthalmitis.

Background: Intravitreal injections are a common ophthalmologic procedure. While infections following these injections are rare, they can lead to endophthalmitis, with potentially serious consequences. Various methods have been proposed to prevent endophthalmitis, including the use of antisepsis and antibiotics in patient preparation.

Assessing methane emissions from paddy fields through environmental and UAV remote sensing variables.

Concerns about methane (CH) emissions from rice, a staple sustaining over 3.5 billion people globally, are heightened due to its status as the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gases, driving climate change. Accurate quantification of CH emissions from rice fields is crucial for understanding gas concentrations.

Challenges of Congenital Heart Surgery in Brazil: It is Time to Designate Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery Subspecialty.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects eight to ten out of every 1,000 births, resulting in approximately 23,057 new cases in Brazil in 2022. About one in four children with CHD requires surgery or other procedures in the first year of life, and it is expected that approximately 81% of these children with CHD will survive until at least 35 years of age. Professionals choosing to specialize in CHD surgery face numerous challenges, not only related to mastering surgical techniques and the complexity of the diseases but also to the lack of recognition by medical societies as a separate subspecialty.