ctDNA in the reading room: A guide for radiologists.

Liquid biopsy with sequencing of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a minimally invasive method for sampling body fluids and offers a promising alternative to tissue biopsies that involve greater risks, costs, and time. ctDNA not only identifies actionable targets by revealing unique molecular signatures in cancer, but also may assess treatment response, treatment resistance and progression, and recurrence. Imaging correlates of these applications are already being identified and utilized for various solid tumors.

CD70 identifies alloreactive T cells and represents a potential target for prevention and treatment of acute GVHD.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major challenge after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and further understanding of its immunopathology is crucial for developing new treatments. CD70 interacts with CD27 and is upregulated transiently on T cells after recent T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement. Here, we investigated the functional and clinical significance of CD70 expression on T cells during the early posttransplantation period.

Medication adherence star ratings measures, health care resource utilization, and cost.

Objective: To examine the association between missed CMS Star Ratings quality measures for medication adherence over 3 years for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia medications (9 measures) and health care utilization and relative costs.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: The study examined eligible patients who qualified for the diabetes, statin, and renin-angiotensin system antagonist medication adherence measures in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and were continuously enrolled in a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan from 2017 through 2021.

A novel corporate-community partnership model provides safe housing for pets of domestic violence victims.

Objective: To document and evaluate a novel partnership model of a safekeeping program for pets owned by domestic violence victims between May 1, 2021, and June 1, 2023.

Animals: 19 animals referred to the program.

Methods: Procedures for identification, intake, medical and behavioral needs, and shelter of pets belonging to domestic violence victims were established and cases reviewed over the program's initial 2 years.

Interplay in galectin expression predicts patient outcomes in a spatially restricted manner in PDAC.

Background: Galectins (Gal's) are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that are known to support the tumour microenvironment through their immunosuppressive activity and ability to promote metastasis. As such they are attractive therapeutic targets, but little is known about the cellular expression pattern of galectins within the tumour and its neighbouring stromal microenvironment. Here we investigated the cellular expression pattern of Gals within pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

A systematic review of antimicrobial therapy in children with tracheostomies.

Tracheostomies are indicated in children to facilitate long-term ventilatory support, aid in the management of secretions, or manage upper airway obstruction. Children with tracheostomies often experience ongoing airway complications, of which respiratory tract infections are common. They subsequently receive frequent courses of broad-spectrum antimicrobials for the prevention or treatment of respiratory tract infections.

Spatial determination and prognostic impact of the fibroblast transcriptome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a poor clinical outcome and responses to immunotherapy are suboptimal. Stromal fibroblasts are a dominant but heterogenous population within the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic targeting of stromal subsets may have therapeutic utility. Here, we combine spatial transcriptomics and scRNA-Seq datasets to define the transcriptome of tumor-proximal and tumor-distal cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and link this to clinical outcome.

Robust SARS-CoV-2-specific and heterologous immune responses in vaccine-naïve residents of long-term care facilities who survive natural infection.

We studied humoral and cellular immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 152 long-term care facility staff and 124 residents over a prospective 4-month period shortly after the first wave of infection in England. We show that residents of long-term care facilities developed high and stable levels of antibodies against spike protein and receptor-binding domain. Nucleocapsid-specific responses were also elevated but waned over time.

Repair of complex ovine segmental mandibulectomy utilizing customized tissue engineered bony flaps.

Craniofacial defects require a treatment approach that provides both robust tissues to withstand the forces of mastication and high geometric fidelity that allows restoration of facial architecture. When the surrounding soft tissue is compromised either through lack of quantity (insufficient soft tissue to enclose a graft) or quality (insufficient vascularity or inducible cells), a vascularized construct is needed for reconstruction. Tissue engineering using customized 3D printed bioreactors enables the generation of mechanically robust, vascularized bony tissues of the desired geometry.

Can dogs help chickens? Pet owners' willingness to pay for animal welfare-friendly pet food in the United States.

Consumer concern about farmed animal welfare is growing but does not always translate into real-world purchasing behaviour of welfare-friendly animal products for human consumption. Possible reasons for this include unfamiliarity with farming practices and economic sensitivity. In contrast, the number and role of pets in the United States have grown measurably, and spending on pets is strong.

Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Coexpress PD-1 and TIGIT and Functional Inhibition Is Reversible by Dual Antibody Blockade.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor clinical outlook. Responses to immune checkpoint blockade are suboptimal and a much more detailed understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment is needed if this situation is to be improved. Here, we characterized tumor-infiltrating T-cell populations in patients with PDAC using cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and single-cell RNA sequencing.

Finerenone and other future therapeutic options for Alport syndrome.

Alport syndrome is a rare genetic disease that results in disordered basement membrane type IV collagen resulting in haematuria, proteinuria and often development of renal fibrosis leading to progressive kidney disease. The therapeutic blockage of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which slows the progression to kidney failure, is supported by strong evidence. Recent clinical trials using sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) in patients with chronic kidney disease have changed the therapeutic landscape.

The effect of multi-material architecture on the ex vivo osteochondral integration of bioprinted constructs.

Extrusion bioprinted constructs for osteochondral tissue engineering were fabricated to study the effect of multi-material architecture on encapsulated human mesenchymal stem cells' tissue-specific matrix deposition and integration into an ex vivo porcine osteochondral explant model. Two extrusion fiber architecture groups with differing transition regions and degrees of bone- and cartilage-like bioink mixing were employed. The gradient fiber (G-Fib) architecture group showed an increase in chondral integration over time, 18.

Posttraumatic growth related to the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with lived experience of psychiatric disorder.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to be detrimental to mental health, it may hold a parallel potential for positive change. Little is known about posttraumatic growth (PTG) as a potential outcome for individuals with lived experience of psychiatric disorders following trauma exposure, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 1,424 adults with lived experience of a psychiatric disorder who took part in a longitudinal study of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic conducted by the National Centre for Mental Health.

Thermogelling hydrogel charge and lower critical solution temperature influence cellular infiltration and tissue integration in an ex vivo cartilage explant model.

Thermogelling hydrogels based on poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (p[NiPAAm]) and crosslinked with a peptide-bearing macromer poly(glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(glycolic acid)-di(but-2-yne-1,4-dithiol) (PdBT) were fabricated to assess the role of hydrogel charge and lower critical solution temperature (LCST) over time in influencing cellular infiltration and tissue integration in an ex vivo cartilage explant model over 21 days. The p(NiPAAm)-based thermogelling polymer was synthesized to possess 0, 5, and 10 mol% dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone acrylate (DBA) to raise the LCST over time as the lactone rings hydrolyzed. Further, three peptides were designed to impart charge into the hydrogels via conjugation to the PdBT crosslinker.

F Site-Specific Labelling of a Single-Chain Antibody against Activated Platelets for the Detection of Acute Thrombosis in Positron Emission Tomography.

Positron emission tomography is the imaging modality of choice when it comes to the high sensitivity detection of key markers of thrombosis and inflammation, such as activated platelets. We, previously, generated a fluorine-18 labelled single-chain antibody (scFv) against ligand-induced binding sites (LIBS) on activated platelets, binding it to the highly abundant platelet glycoprotein integrin receptor IIb/IIIa. We used a non-site-specific bio conjugation approach with -succinimidyl-4-[F]fluorobenzoate (S[F]FB), leading to a mixture of products with reduced antigen binding.

Current and Future Immunotherapy-Based Treatments for Oesophageal Cancers.

Oesophageal cancer is a disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the prognosis of this condition has hardly improved in the past few years. Standard treatment includes a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery; however, only a proportion of patients go on to treatment intended to cure the disease due to the late presentation of this disease. New treatment options are of utmost importance, and immunotherapy is a new option that has the potential to transform the landscape of this disease.

Trauma exposure and co-occurring ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder in adults with lived experience of psychiatric disorder.

Objective: To establish factors associated with ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) in a large sample of adults with lived experience of psychiatric disorder and examine the psychiatric burden associated with the two disorders.

Methods: One thousand three hundred and five adults were recruited from the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) cohort. ICD-11 PTSD/CPTSD were assessed with the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ).