HRS Improves Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer by Timely Identification of Progression.

Rationale And Objectives: Active surveillance (AS) is the preferred management strategy for low-risk prostate cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Habitat Risk Score (HRS), an automated approach for mpMRI analysis, for early detection of progressors in a prospective AS clinical trial (MAST NCT02242773).

Materials And Methods: The MAST protocol includes Confirmatory mpMRI ultrasound fusion (MRI-US) biopsy and yearly surveillance MRI-US biopsies for up to 3 years.

Assessing the Molecular Heterogeneity of Prostate Cancer Biopsy Sampling: Insights from the MAST Trial.

Background And Objective: Prostate cancer (PC) heterogeneity can result in sampling discrepancies during biopsy, leading to inaccurate molecular classifications that affect treatment decisions. We evaluated transcriptomic profile variability between multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-targeted biopsy (TBx) and systematic biopsy (SBx) methods using the Decipher GRID platform.

Methods: The study included 205 men from the MAST trial.

Evaluation of the Effect of Precursor NMC622@TiO Core-Shell Powders Using a Prelithiated Anode from Fig Seeds: Spotlight on Li-ion Full-Cell Performance.

In this study, innovative electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were developed and characterized, demonstrating significant performance enhancements. Initially, NMC622@TiO was synthesized using a wet-chemical method with titanium(IV) ethoxide as the Ti source. Advanced structural investigations confirmed the successful formation of a core@shell structure with negligible cation mixing (Li/Ni) at the NMC622 surface, contributing to enhanced electrochemical performance.

Integrated framework for quantitative T2-weighted MRI analysis following prostate cancer radiotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a framework for quantitative analysis of longitudinal T2-weighted MRIs (T2w) following radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: The developed methodology includes: deformable image registration of longitudinal series to pre-RT T2w for automated detection of prostate, peripheral zone (PZ), and gross tumor volume (GTV); and T2w signal-intensity harmonization based on three reference tissues. The gistration and onization () framework was applied on T2w acquired in a clinical trial consisting of two pre-RT and three post-RT MRI exams.

Dynamics of Daily Glioblastoma Evolution During Chemoradiation Therapy on the 0.35T Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Linear Accelerator.

Purpose: Glioblastoma changes during chemoradiation therapy are inferred from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after treatment but are rarely investigated due to logistics of frequent MRI. Using a combination MRI-linear accelerator (MRI-linac), we evaluated changes during daily chemoradiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Patients with glioblastoma were prospectively imaged daily during chemoradiation therapy on 0.

Evaluating 4Kscore's role in predicting progression on active surveillance for prostate cancer independently of clinical information and PIRADS score.

Background: 4Kscore is used to aid the decision for prostate biopsy, however its role in active surveillance (AS) has not been investigated in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based protocol. Our objective was to assess the association between 4Kscore and progression in men undergoing AS on a prospective MRI-based protocol.

Methods: This was a single-institution, single-arm, non-therapeutic, interventional trial of 166 men with biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer enrolled between 2014-2020.

Burnout and Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance among General Practitioners in Bulgaria during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The objective of the present study is to analyze the link between the degree of professional burnout among general practitioners in Bulgaria during a pandemic and their satisfaction with the balance between their personal lives and professional lives. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic from December 2021 to January 2022 among 377 general practitioners. We identified the presence and level of burnout syndrome among GPs using V.

Convolutional Neural Networks for Glioma Segmentation and Prognosis: A Systematic Review.

Deep learning (DL) is poised to redefine the way medical images are processed and analyzed. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a specific type of DL architecture, are exceptional for high-throughput processing, allowing for the effective extraction of relevant diagnostic patterns from large volumes of complex visual data. This technology has garnered substantial interest in the field of neuro-oncology as a promising tool to enhance medical imaging throughput and analysis.

Phase Engineering via Aluminum Doping Enhances the Electrochemical Stability of Lithium-Rich Cobalt-Free Layered Oxides for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Lithium-rich, cobalt-free oxides are promising potential positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries because of their high energy density, lower cost, and reduced environmental and ethical concerns. However, their commercial breakthrough is hindered because of their subpar electrochemical stability. This work studies the effect of aluminum doping on LiNiMnO as a lithium-rich, cobalt-free layered oxide.

Predictors of a severe course and mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia.

Severe and critical forms of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Numerous research studies have been conducted around the world to investigate various variables (demographic, clinical, laboratory, etc.) in an attempt to understand the relationships between them and the course and outcome of patients with COVID-19 infection and pneumonia.

Radical prostatectomy cancer grade and percentage of Gleason pattern 4 estimated by global vs individual tumor grading correlate differently with the risk of biochemical recurrence in Grade Group 2 and 3 cancers.

Objectives: There are 2 grading approaches to radical prostatectomy (RP) in multifocal cancer: Grade Group (GG) and percentage of Gleason pattern 4 (GP4%). We investigated whether RP GG and GP4% generated by global vs individual tumor grading correlate differently with biochemical recurrence.

Methods: We reviewed 531 RP specimens with GG2 or GG3 cancer.

Implementation and evaluation of a dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion protocol for glioblastoma using a 0.35 T MRI-Linac system.

Purpose: MRI-linear accelerator (MRI-Linac) systems allow for daily tracking of MRI changes during radiotherapy (RT). Since one common MRI-Linac operates at 0.35 T, there are efforts towards developing protocols at that field strength.

Experimental and DFT Study of Monensinate and Salinomycinate Complexes Containing {Fe(µ-O)} Core.

Two trinuclear oxo-centred iron(III) coordination compounds of monensic and salinomycinic acids (HL) were synthesized and their spectral properties were studied using physicochemical/thermal methods (FT-IR, TG-DTA, TG-MS, EPR, Mössbauer spectroscopy, powder XRD) and elemental analysis. The data suggested the formation of [Fe(µ-O)L(OH)] and the probable complex structures were modelled using the DFT method. The computed spectral parameters of the optimized constructs were compared to the experimentally measured ones.

Graphene-Based Composites for Thermoelectric Applications at Room Temperature.

The thermoelectric materials that operate at room temperature represent a scientific challenge in finding chemical compositions with three optimized, independent parameters, namely electrical and thermal conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient. Here, we explore the concept of the formation of hybrid composites between carbon-based materials and oxides, with the aim of modifying their thermoelectric performance at room temperature. Two types of commercially available graphene-based materials are selected: N-containing reduced graphene oxide (NrGO) and expanded graphite (ExGr).

Uncovering prostate cancer aggressiveness signal in T2-weighted MRI through a three-reference tissues normalization technique.

Quantitative T2-weighted MRI (T2W) interpretation is impeded by the variability of acquisition-related features, such as field strength, coil type, signal amplification, and pulse sequence parameters. The main purpose of this work is to develop an automated method for prostate T2W intensity normalization. The procedure includes the following: (i) a deep learning-based network utilizing MASK R-CNN for automatic segmentation of three reference tissues: gluteus maximus muscle, femur, and bladder; (ii) fitting a spline function between average intensities in these structures and reference values; and (iii) using the function to transform all T2W intensities.

Review and New Perspectives on Non-Layered Manganese Compounds as Electrode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

After more than 30 years of delay compared to lithium-ion batteries, sodium analogs are now emerging in the market. This is a result of the concerns regarding sustainability and production costs of the former, as well as issues related to safety and toxicity. Electrode materials for the new sodium-ion batteries may contain available and sustainable elements such as sodium itself, as well as iron or manganese, while eliminating the common cobalt cathode compounds and copper anode current collectors for lithium-ion batteries.

A Deep Learning Approach for Automatic Segmentation during Daily MRI-Linac Radiotherapy of Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma changes during chemoradiotherapy are inferred from high-field MRI before and after treatment but are rarely investigated during radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to develop a deep learning network to automatically segment glioblastoma tumors on daily treatment set-up scans from the first glioblastoma patients treated on MRI-linac. Glioblastoma patients were prospectively imaged daily during chemoradiotherapy on 0.

Clinical-Genomic Risk Group Classification of Suspicious Lesions on Prostate Multiparametric-MRI.

The utilization of multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) in clinical decisions regarding prostate cancer patients' management has recently increased. After biopsy, clinicians can assess risk using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk stratification schema and commercially available genomic classifiers, such as Decipher. We built radiomics-based models to predict lesions/patients at low risk prior to biopsy based on an established three-tier clinical-genomic classification system.

Machine Learning Prediction of the Redox Activity of Quinones.

The redox properties of quinones underlie their unique characteristics as organic battery components that outperform the conventional inorganic ones. Furthermore, these redox properties could be precisely tuned by using different substituent groups. Machine learning and statistics, on the other hand, have proven to be very powerful approaches for the efficient in silico design of novel materials.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Monitoring of Predegradation Radical Generation in a Lithium Electrolyte.

Herein we present an innovative EPR spectroscopy approach complemented with computational modeling as a methodology for assessing a nonaqueous electrolyte behavior just before its massive degradation. As a proof of concept, we use the conventional lithium electrolyte (1 M LiPF in EC/DMC), which is utilized in current lithium-ion batteries. Through EPR, long-lived EC associates in amounts of 10-250 ppm were detected in a broad potential window (>2.

Lithium Manganese Sulfates as a New Class of Supercapattery Materials at Elevated Temperatures.

To make supercapattery devices feasible, there is an urgent need to find electrode materials that exhibit a hybrid mechanism of energy storage. Herein, we provide a first report on the capability of lithium manganese sulfates to be used as supercapattery materials at elevated temperatures. Two compositions are studied: monoclinic LiMn(SO) and orthorhombic LiMn(SO), which are prepared by a freeze-drying method followed by heat treatment at 500 °C.

Novel Cerium(IV) Coordination Compounds of Monensin and Salinomycin.

The largely uncharted complexation chemistry of the veterinary polyether ionophores, monensic and salinomycinic acids (HL) with metal ions of type M and the known antiproliferative potential of antibiotics has provoked our interest in exploring the coordination processes between MonH/SalH and ions of Ce. (1) Methods: Novel monensinate and salinomycinate cerium(IV)-based complexes were synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, a plethora of physicochemical methods, density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and biological assays. (2) Results: The formation of coordination species of a general composition [CeL(OH)] and [CeL(NO)(OH)], depending on reaction conditions, was proven both experimentally and theoretically.

Radiogenomic profiling of prostate tumors prior to external beam radiotherapy converges on a transcriptomic signature of TGF-β activity driving tumor recurrence.

Background: Patients with localized prostate cancer have historically been assigned to clinical risk groups based on local disease extent, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), and tumor grade. Clinical risk grouping is used to determine the intensity of treatment with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), yet a substantial proportion of patients with intermediate and high risk localized prostate cancer will develop biochemical recurrence (BCR) and require salvage therapy. Prospective identification of patients destined to experience BCR would allow treatment intensification or selection of alternative therapeutic strategies.