A Comparative Dosimetric Study of Proton and Photon Therapy in Stereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation for Ventricular Tachycardia.

Purpose: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a life-threatening arrhythmia commonly treated with catheter ablation; however, some cases remain refractory to conventional treatment. Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) has emerged as a non-invasive option for such patients. While photon-based STAR has shown efficacy, proton therapy offers potential advantages due to its superior dose conformity and sparing of critical organs at risk (OARs), including the heart itself.

Mesothelioma risks and cumulative exposure to elongate mineral particles of various sizes in Minnesota taconite mining industry.

Objectives: An excess of mesothelioma has been previously observed in iron ore miners in Northeastern Minnesota. This study explored the potential association between mesothelioma and elongate mineral particle (EMP) exposures in the Minnesota taconite mining industry, examining both regulated and non-regulated EMP dimensions.

Methods: A nested case-control study design within the Mineral Resources Health Assessment Programme cohort analysed 104 mesothelioma cases and 410 controls.

CCN2 functions as a modulator of cell cycle regulation in human dermal fibroblasts.

CCN2 is widely regarded as a profibrotic factor involved in fibrotic disorders by regulating extracellular matrix (ECM). We report here that CCN2 functions as a critical cell cycle regulator in primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). siRNA-mediated knockdown of CCN2 halted proliferation of primary HDFs, which was rescued by a siRNA-resistant CCN2 expression vector.

Reliability of radiomics features as imaging biomarkers for evaluating brain aging: A study based on myelin protein and diffusion tensor imaging.

Radiomics has made considerable progress in neurodegenerative diseases. However, previous studies only explored the feasibility of radiomics in clinical applications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain the most relevant radiomics features with the aging changes of myelin proteins and compare their diagnostic performances with the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters to identify the reliability of these features as imaging biomarkers for assessing brain aging.

Drillers and bulldozer operators have experienced exceptionally high exposures to respirable crystalline silica in US surface coal mines.

Introduction: Previous studies suggest respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is an important driver of resurgent pneumoconiosis among US coal miners. Although greater attention has been focused on dust exposures in underground coal miners, surface miners are also at risk of severe disease. This study explores RCS exposure in this population.

Correction: A systematic review verified by bioinformatic analysis based on TCGA reveals week prognosis power of CAIX in renal cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Effectiveness and economic outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with a new surgical shear with an integrated energy system: A retrospective study based on a tertiary hospital database in China.

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate a new surgical shear with an integrated energy system (Harmonic ACE®+7) value by determining its effectiveness and economic outcomes compared with conventional ultrasonic shears (CUSs) in a real-world setting.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of adults with prostate cancer undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with the ACE®+7 shear or CUSs between August 2019 and April 2021 at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital (the headquarters and Luwan Center in China). Demographic and diagnosis information, intraoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes, and total and categorical costs were collected.

Causal Relationship Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Immune Cell Traits: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological disorder that occurs after exposure to catastrophic-level experiences. Although alterations in immune function have been identified in individuals with PTSD, the causal relationship between the two remains unclear.

Methods: To investigate the causal relationship between PTSD and immune function, we conducted the forward and backward two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, based on summary-level genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data on PTSD and immune cell traits.

Predicting the clinical prognosis of acute ischemic stroke using machine learning: an application of radiomic biomarkers on non-contrast CT after intravascular interventional treatment.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a radiomic model based on non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) after interventional treatment to predict the clinical prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusion.

Methods: We retrospectively collected 141 cases of AIS from 2016 to 2020 and analyzed the patients' clinical data as well as NCCT data after interventional treatment. Then, the total dataset was divided into training and testing sets according to the subject serial number.

A sophisticated mechanism governs Pol ζ activity in response to replication stress.

DNA polymerase ζ (Pol ζ) plays an essential role in replicating damaged DNA templates but contributes to mutagenesis due to its low fidelity. Therefore, ensuring tight control of Pol ζ's activity is critical for continuous and accurate DNA replication, yet the specific mechanisms remain unclear. This study reveals a regulation mechanism of Pol ζ activity in human cells.

A systematic review and meta-analysis combined with bioinformatic analysis on the predictive value of E-cadherin in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common cancer of the kidney. This study aims to evaluate the potential predictive value of E-cadherin, a marker of the epithelial mesenchymal transit (EMT) process that has been associated with tumor metastasis.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to identify prospective studies.

White matter structure and derived network properties are used to predict the progression from mild cognitive impairment of older adults to Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: To identify white matter fiber injury and network changes that may lead to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progression, then a joint model was constructed based on neuropsychological scales to predict high-risk individuals for Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression among older adults with MCI.

Methods: A total of 173 MCI patients were included from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative(ADNI) database and randomly divided into training and testing cohorts. Forty-five progressed to AD during a 4-year follow-up period.

The impact of positive surgical margin parameters and pathological stage on biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on the predictive value of the primary Gleason grade (PGG) at the positive surgical margin (PSM), length of PSM, number of PSMs, and pathological stage of the primary tumor on biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, from January 1, 2005, to October 1, 2023. The protocol was pre-registered in PROSPERO.

Pattern of heterogeneity in normal brain ageing: screening for mild cognitive impairment and its risk of progression with a radiomics model.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a normal brain ageing model based on magnetic resonance imaging and radiomics, therefore identifying radscore, an imaging indicator representing white matter heterogeneity and exploring the significance of radscore in detecting people's cognitive changes.

Methods: Three hundred sixty cognitively normal (CN) subjects from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database and 105 CN subjects from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative database were used to develop the model. In ADNI, 230 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects were matched with 230 CN old-aged subjects to evaluate their heterogeneity difference.

Costunolide Inhibits Chronic Kidney Disease Development by Attenuating IKKβ/NF-κB Pathway.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant worldwide health concern that leads to high mortality rates. The bioactive substance costunolide (CTD) has demonstrated several pharmacological effects and holds promise as a CKD treatment. This study aims to investigate the impact of CTD on CKD and delve into its mechanisms of action.

Machine learning-based nomogram: integrating MRI radiomics and clinical indicators for prognostic assessment in acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Rapid and precise prognostication of AIS is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. This study explores the integration of machine learning-derived radiomics signatures from multi-parametric MRI with clinical factors to forecast AIS prognosis.

Prediction of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease based on MRI radiomics and clinical features: A multicenter study.

Objective: To develop and validate a multimodal combinatorial model based on whole-brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomic features for predicting cognitive decline in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: This study included a total of 222 PD patients with normal baseline cognition, of whom 68 had cognitive impairment during a 4-year follow-up period. All patients underwent MRI scans, and radiomic features were extracted from the whole-brain MRI images of the training set, and dimensionality reduction was performed to construct a radiomics model.

Encapsulation of hydroxycamptothecin within porous and hollow poly(L-lactide--ε-caprolactone) microspheres as a floating delivery system for intravesical instillation.

Intravesical instillation is an effective post-treatment for bladder cancer performed by delivering medications directly into the bladder to target the remaining cancer cells. The current study thus aimed to develop porous poly(L-lactide--ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) microspheres encapsulated with 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) microfluidics to serve as a drug delivery system with persistent floating capacity and sustained HCPT-release property for intravesical instillation. A microfluidic device was designed to fabricate PLCL microspheres and encapsulate HCPT (HCPT-MS) within them; methanol and tridecane were introduced into an oil phase as a co-solvent and pore-forming agent, respectively, to regulate the floating ability of microspheres.

The mean Hounsfield unit range acquired from different slices produces superior predictive accuracy for pyonephrosis in obstructive uropathy.

Purpose: To determine the non-contrast computer tomography imaging features of pyonephrosis and evaluate the predictive value of Hounsfield units (HUs) in different hydronephrotic region slices.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with hydronephrosis who had renal-ureteral calculi. All patients were categorized into pyonephrosis and simple hydronephrosis groups.

Pangenome analyses of Clostridium butyricum provide insights into its genetic characteristics and industrial application.

Clostridium butyricum is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium known for its ability to produce butyate. In this study, we conducted whole-genome sequencing and assembly of 14C. butyricum industrial strains collected from various parts of China.

Predicting Alzheimer's progression in MCI: a DTI-based white matter network model.

Objective: This study aimed to identify features of white matter network attributes based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that might lead to progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and construct a comprehensive model based on these features for predicting the population at high risk of progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in MCI patients.

Methods: This study enrolled 121 MCI patients from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Among them, 36 progressed to AD after four years of follow-up.

Comparison between morphometry and radiomics: detecting normal brain aging based on grey matter.

Objective: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), surface-based morphometry (SBM), and radiomics are widely used in the field of neuroimage analysis, while it is still unclear that the performance comparison between traditional morphometry and emerging radiomics methods in diagnosing brain aging. In this study, we aimed to develop a VBM-SBM model and a radiomics model for brain aging based on cognitively normal (CN) individuals and compare their performance to explore both methods' strengths, weaknesses, and relationships.

Methods: 967 CN participants were included in this study.

Effect of CHST11, a novel biomarker, on the biological functionalities of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common malignant tumor, and the role of carbohydrate sulfotransferase 11 (CHST11) in this cancer remains unclear. Here, by using bioinformatics methods, we comprehensively analyzed the relationship between CHST11 and clinical significance, immune infiltration, functional enrichment, mA methylation, and protein-protein interaction networks. We found that CHST11 expression was significantly higher in ccRCC samples than in normal tissues.