In Obesity, Esophagogastric Junction Fat Impairs Esophageal Barrier Function and Dilates Intercellular Spaces via HIF-2α.

Background & Aims: Dilated intercellular space (DIS) in esophageal epithelium, a sign of impaired barrier function, is a characteristic finding of GERD that also is found in obese patients without GERD. We have explored molecular mechanisms whereby adipose tissue products might impair esophageal barrier integrity.

Methods: We established cultures of visceral fat obtained during foregut surgery from obese and non-obese patients.

Performance of large language artificial intelligence models on solving restorative dentistry and endodontics student assessments.

Objectives: The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM)-based AI applications (LLMAs) has tremendous implications for our society. This study analyzed the performance of LLMAs on solving restorative dentistry and endodontics (RDE) student assessment questions.

Materials And Methods: 151 questions from a RDE question pool were prepared for prompting using LLMAs from OpenAI (ChatGPT-3.

Superior antitumor immune response achieved with proton over photon immunoradiotherapy is amplified by the nanoradioenhancer NBTXR3.

Recent findings suggest that immunoradiotherapy (IRT), combining photon radiotherapy (XRT) or proton radiotherapy (PRT) with immune checkpoint blockade, can enhance systemic tumor control. However, the comparative efficacy of XRT and PRT in IRT remains understudied. To address this, we compared outcomes between XRT + αPD1 and PRT + αPD1 in murine αPD1-resistant lung cancer (344SQR).

Inclusive Approaches for Measuring Demographics of Underrepresented Populations in STEM and Biomedical Research Training Programs.

As federal strategic plans prioritize increasing diversity within the biomedical workforce, and STEM training and outreach programs seek to recruit and retain students from historically underrepresented populations, there is a need for interrogation of traditional demographic descriptors and careful consideration of best practices for obtaining demographic data. To accelerate this work, equity-focused researchers and leaders from STEM programs convened to examine approaches for measuring demographic variables. Gender, race/ethnicity, disability, and disadvantaged background were prioritized given their focus by federal funding agencies.

Biomimetic Remineralization of Artificial Caries Lesions with a Calcium Coacervate, Its Components and Self-Assembling Peptide P-4 In Vitro.

The application of calcium coacervates (CCs) may hold promise for dental hard tissue remineralization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the infiltration of artificial enamel lesions with a CC and its single components including polyacrylic acid (PAA) compared to that of the self-assembling peptide P-4 in a pH-cycling (pHC) model. Enamel specimens were prepared from bovine incisors, partly varnished, and stored in demineralizing solution (DS; pH 4.