Breast radiotherapy planning: A decision-making framework using deep learning.

Background: Effective breast cancer treatment planning requires balancing tumor control while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissues. Choosing between intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) remains pivotal, influenced by patient anatomy and dosimetric constraints.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a decision-making framework utilizing deep learning to predict dose distributions, aiding in the selection of optimal treatment techniques.

Antitumor Activity of a Novel LAIR1 Antagonist in Combination with Anti-PD1 to Treat Collagen-Rich Solid Tumors.

We recently reported that resistance to PD-1 blockade in a refractory lung cancer-derived model involved increased collagen deposition and the collagen-binding inhibitory receptor leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor 1 (LAIR1). Thus, we hypothesized that LAIR1 and collagen cooperated to suppress therapeutic response. In this study, we report that LAIR1 is associated with tumor stroma and is highly expressed by intratumoral myeloid cells in both human tumors and mouse models of cancer.

ILT2 and ILT4 Drive Myeloid Suppression via Both Overlapping and Distinct Mechanisms.

Solid tumors are dense three-dimensional (3D) multicellular structures that enable efficient receptor-ligand trans interactions via close cell-cell contact. Immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT)2 and ILT4 are related immune-suppressive receptors that play a role in the inhibition of myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment. The relative contribution of ILT2 and ILT4 to immune inhibition in the context of solid tumor tissue has not been fully explored.

A target discovery pipeline identified ILT3 as a target for immunotherapy of multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignancy of plasma cells. To identify targets for MM immunotherapy, we develop an integrated pipeline based on mass spectrometry analysis of seven MM cell lines and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) from 900+ patients. Starting from 4,000+ candidates, we identify the most highly expressed cell surface proteins.

Consensus on complementary feeding from the Latin American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition: COCO 2023.

Complementary feeding (CF) is defined as the feeding of infants that complements breastfeeding, or alternatively, feeding with a breast milk substitute, and is a process that is more than simply a guide as to what and how to introduce foods. The information provided by healthcare professionals must be up-to-date and evidence-based. Most of the recommendations that appear in the different international guidelines and position papers are widely applicable, but some must be regionalized or adapted to fit the conditions and reality of each geographic zone.

Faecal calprotectin and rectal histological inflammatory markers in cystic fibrosis: a single-centre study.

Objective: To analyse the association of faecal calprotectin with the genetic and clinical characteristics of paediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). In a subset of these patients, we aimed to associate histological inflammatory features of rectal mucosa to faecal calprotectin levels.

Methods: In a prospective study, faecal calprotectin levels were collected in all 23 PwCF attending our paediatric centre, together with demographic and clinical data.

New drugs in cystic fibrosis: what has changed in the last decade?

Cystic fibrosis (CF), a life-limiting chronic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene, affects more than 90,000 people worldwide. Until recently, the only available treatments were directed to symptom control, but they failed to change the course of the disease. New drugs developed in the last decade have the potential to change the expression, function, and stability of CFTR protein, targeting the basic molecular defect.

The Fibronectin-ILT3 Interaction Functions as a Stromal Checkpoint that Suppresses Myeloid Cells.

Suppressive myeloid cells inhibit antitumor immunity by preventing T-cell responses. Immunoglobulin-like transcript 3 (ILT3; also known as LILRB4) is highly expressed on tumor-associated myeloid cells and promotes their suppressive phenotype. However, the ligand that engages ILT3 within the tumor microenvironment and renders tumor-associated myeloid cells suppressive is unknown.

Pediatric population with cystic fibrosis in the centre of Portugal: candidates for new therapies.

Objectives: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a severe autosomal recessive disease that results from mutations in a gene encoding the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) protein, a chloride channel. This study aims to characterize the clinical and genetic features of a cohort of pediatric people with CF (PwCF) in the center of Portugal and to determine which ones are candidates for the new drugs modulating the CFTR channel.

Methods: A review of the demographic, genetic and clinical characteristics of PwCF undergoing follow-up at a CF reference center was carried out.

The Experience of a Facial Nerve Unit in the Treatment of Patients With Facial Paralysis Following Skull Base Surgery.

: The management of facial paralysis following skull base surgery is complex and requires multidisciplinary intervention. This review shows the experience of a facial nerve (FN) unit in a tertiary university referral center. A multidisciplinary approach has led to the breaking of some old treatment paradigms.

Assessment of Pre-operative Measurements of Tumor Size by MRI Methods as Survival Predictors in Wild Type IDH Glioblastoma.

We evaluate the performance of three MRI methods to determine non-invasively tumor size, as overall survival (OS) and Progression Free Survival (PFS) predictors, in a cohort of wild type, IDH negative, glioblastoma patients. Investigated protocols included bidimensional (2D) diameter measurements, and three-dimensional (3D) estimations by the ellipsoid or semi-automatic segmentation methods. We investigated OS in a cohort of 44 patients diagnosed with wild type IDH glioblastoma (58.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor α Subunits Regulate Tie2-Expressing Macrophages That Influence Tumor Oxygen and Perfusion in Murine Breast Cancer.

Tie2-expressing monocytes/macrophages (TEMs) are a distinct subset of proangiogenic monocytes selectively recruited to tumors in breast cancer. Because of the hypoxic nature of solid tumors, we investigated if oxygen, via hypoxia-inducible transcription factors HIF-1α and HIF-2α, regulates TEM function in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. We orthotopically implanted PyMT breast tumor cells into the mammary fat pads of syngeneic LysMcre, HIF-1α /LysMcre, or HIF-2α /LysMcre mice and evaluated the tumor TEM population.

Microplastics and copper effects on the neotropical teleost Prochilodus lineatus: Is there any interaction?

Microplastics (MP) are emerging contaminants widely found in aquatic ecosystems. In addition to MP toxicity itself, there is increasing concern about the MP adsorption capacity and the interactive effects with other contaminants, such as copper. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of polyethylene microplastic and its association with copper (Cu) in genotoxic, biochemical, and physiological biomarkers of the neotropical teleost Prochilodus lineatus.

Facial nerve repair: the impact of technical variations on the final outcome.

Objectives: To analyze the outcome of facial nerve (FN) reconstruction, the impact of technical variations in different conditions and locations, and the importance of additional techniques in case of suboptimal results.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University-based tertiary referral center.

Assessment of Overall Survival in Glioma Patients as Predicted by Metabolomic Criteria.

We assess the efficacy of the metabolomic profile from glioma biopsies in providing estimates of postsurgical Overall Survival in glioma patients. Tumor biopsies from 46 patients bearing gliomas, obtained neurosurgically in the period 1992-1998, were analyzed by high resolution H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HR- H MRS), following retrospectively individual postsurgical Overall Survival up to 720 weeks. The Overall Survival profile could be resolved in three groups; Short (shorter than 52 weeks, = 19), Intermediate (between 53 and 364 weeks, = 19) or Long (longer than 365 weeks, = 8), respectively.

Facial paralysis: Clinical practice guideline of the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology.

Bell's palsy is the most common diagnosis associated with facial nerve weakness or paralysis. However, not all patients with facial paresis/paralysis have Bell's palsy. Other common causes include treatment of vestibular schwannoma, head and neck tumours, iatrogenic injuries, Herpes zoster, or trauma.

Early toll-like receptor 4 blockade reduces ROS and inflammation triggered by microglial pro-inflammatory phenotype in rodent and human brain ischaemia models.

Background And Purpose: Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death, disability, and a high unmet medical need. Post-reperfusion inflammation and an up-regulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an upstream sensor of innate immunity, are associated with poor outcome in stroke patients. Here, we identified the therapeutic effect of targeting the LPS/TLR4 signal transduction pathway.

Severe iron-deficiency anemia as initial manifestation of pulmonary hemosiderosis in a child.

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis is a potentially fatal disease that results from episodes of alveolar hemorrhage of unknown origin. The clinical spectrum is varied, and anemia may constitute the only manifestation of illness, preceding other signs and symptoms by several months. We present the case of a 4 year-old child presenting with fever, vomiting and prostration, associated with pallor.

Update on the pathophysiology and management of syringomyelia unrelated to Chiari malformation.

Introduction: Much has been published on syringomyelia related to Chiari malformation. In contrast, little is known about the condition when it is not associated with this malformation, but this presentation of syringomyelia constitutes a different entity and therefore requires specific management. We conducted a literature review to summarise the most accepted and widespread ideas about the pathophysiology, management and other aspects of syringomyelia unrelated to Chiari malformation.

NK Cell-Mediated Antitumor Effects of a Folate-Conjugated Immunoglobulin Are Enhanced by Cytokines.

Optimally effective antitumor therapies would not only activate immune effector cells but also engage them at the tumor. Folate conjugated to immunoglobulin (F-IgG) could direct innate immune cells with Fc receptors to folate receptor-expressing cancer cells. F-IgG bound to human KB and HeLa cells, as well as murine L1210JF, a folate receptor (FR)-overexpressing cancer cell line, as determined by flow cytometry.

Evolution of Patients With Immediate Complete Facial Paralysis Secondary to Acoustic Neuroma Surgery.

Objective: To study the evolution of patients with immediate complete facial paralysis after acoustic neuroma surgery in different scenarios and assess different facial reanimations techniques.

Methods: This study included 50 patients with complete facial paralysis immediately after acoustic neuroma surgery. Data were analyzed into 4 groups according to the need and type of reconstruction of the facial nerve, either none, immediate, or on a deferred basis.

Efficacy of daptomycin in the treatment of enterococcal endocarditis: a 5 year comparison with conventional therapy.

Objectives: Enterococcus spp. account for 10% of infective endocarditis (IE). Although daptomycin is a bactericidal drug with in vitro activity against Enterococcus, there is little experience of its use in IE.

Small synthetic hyaluronan disaccharides afford neuroprotection in brain ischemia-related models.

High molecular weight (HMW) glycosaminoglycanes of the extracellular matrix have been implicated in tissue repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate if small synthetic hyaluronan disaccharides with different degrees of sulfation (methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-O-sulfo-α-d-glucopyranoside, sodium salt (di0S), methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-6-di-O-sulfo-α-d-glucopyranoside, disodium salt (di6S) and methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-4,6-di-O-sulfo-α-d-glucopyranoside, trisodium salt (di4,6S)) could improve cell survival in in vitro and in vivo brain ischemia-related models. Rat hippocampal slices subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation and a photothrombotic stroke model in mice were used.