[First experience with robotic-assisted colorectal surgery].

Robot-assisted surgery has been available at the National Institute of Oncology since 2022. We report on the most important parameters of the colorectal robot-assisted surgery of the first 191 patients. Robotically assisted rectal surgery was compared with our previous laparoscopic and open surgical activities.

Ferroelectric hydrogels from amino acids and oleic acid.

Ferroelectric bio-based materials with a high water content (≈90 wt %) were not previously developed. Here, we develop hydrogels containing ≈90 wt % water, amino acids (lysine and arginine) and oleic acid. The NH and CH groups of lysine hydrogen bond water, as shown by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, yielding electrically conductive solutions.

Cryo-EM structures of a bathy phytochrome histidine kinase reveal a unique light-dependent activation mechanism.

Phytochromes are photoreceptor proteins in plants, fungi, and bacteria. They can adopt two photochromic states with differential biochemical responses. The structural changes transducing the signal from the chromophore to the biochemical output modules are poorly understood due to challenges in capturing structures of the dynamic, full-length protein.

Asymmetric changes in foot anthropometry with pregnancy may be related to onset of lower limb and low back pain.

Introduction: Fifty percent of pregnant females experience pain with 20% reporting long-term pain post-partum. Pregnant females undergo changes in foot anthropometry, lower extremity alignment, and joint laxity. It is unknown if asymmetric alterations may be related to development of pain.