High-level nitrogen removal achieved by Feammox-based autotrophic nitrogen conversion.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with Fe(III) reduction (Feammox) is an essential process in the geochemical iron and nitrogen cycling. This study explores Feammox-based nitrogen removal in a continuous laboratory up-flow bioreactor stimulated by intermittently adding 5 mM Fe(OH) at intervals of approximately two months. The feed was synthetic wastewater with a relatively low ammonium concentration (∼100 mg N/L), yet without organic carbon in order to test its autotrophic nitrogen removal performance.

A Pooled Pharmacokinetic Analysis for Piperacillin/Tazobactam Across Different Patient Populations: From Premature Infants to the Elderly.

Background And Objectives: The pharmacokinetics (PK) of piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ) is highly variable across different patient populations and there are controversies regarding non-linear elimination as well as the fraction unbound of PIP (f). This has led to a plethora of subgroup-specific models, increasing the risk of misusing published models when optimising dosing regimens. In this study, we aimed to develop a single model to simultaneously describe the PK of PIP/TAZ in diverse patient populations and evaluate the current dosing recommendations by predicting the PK/pharmacodynamics (PD) target attainment throughout life.

The association between animal protein, plant protein, and their substitution with bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies.

Purpose: Although total dietary protein intake has been associated with bladder cancer (BC) risk, the effect of the origin (plant or animal) and the substitutions remain to be understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of total dietary protein, animal-based protein, plant-based protein, and their substitutions with each other on the risk of BC using a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies.

Methods: The study was conducted within the "BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants" (BLEND) study, including 10 prospective cohort studies from several European countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Perspectives of the medical oncologist regarding adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer: An international expert survey and case vignette study.

Introduction: Adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The decision to initiate chemotherapy involves both patient and physician factors, decision-specific criteria, and contextual considerations. This study aimed to assess medical oncologists' views on adjuvant chemotherapy following pancreatic resection for PDAC.

Pandemic income support programs and adolescent mental health in the UK, Ireland, and Australia.

After cutting social security in recent decades, the UK, Ireland, and Australia expanded income-support programs during the pandemic. Relatively overlooked, this paper investigates policy responses among younger generations, the socioeconomic disparities therein, and whether and which of these policies, now rolled back, were most beneficial. I rely on longitudinal survey data on adolescents and their caregivers.

Spatial organization of the sperm cell glycoproteome.

Sperm cells are terminally differentiated cells that are essential for reproduction in sexually reproducing species. Consistent with their highly specialized function, sperm cells harbor a unique proteome containing many proteins not expressed in somatic cells. In contrast, the post-translational landscape of the sperm proteome remains largely unexplored, limiting our understanding of how modifications such as glycosylation impact sperm function and sperm-egg interactions.

Sex differences in response to the endothelin receptor antagonist atrasentan in individuals with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: a post hoc analysis of the SONAR trial.

Aims/hypothesis: In the Study Of diabetic Nephropathy with AtRasentan (SONAR), the endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) atrasentan slowed progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Pre-clinical research suggests sex-based differences in the endothelin system might influence the efficacy and safety of atrasentan. We therefore assessed the effects of atrasentan in men and women participating in SONAR.

The overlooked burden of persistent physical symptoms: a call for action in European healthcare.

Regardless of their cause, persistent physical symptoms are distressing somatic complaints that occur on most days for at least several months. They are common in patients with somatic diseases, functional somatic disorders, mental disorders, and undiagnosed medical conditions and are often associated with significant impairment and medical costs. Despite their prevalence and impact, persistent physical symptoms are often overlooked in medical care.

Myeloid effector cells in cancer.

The role of myeloid cells in tumor immunity is multifaceted. While dendritic cells support T cell-mediated tumor control, the highly heterogenous populations of macrophages, neutrophils, and immature myeloid cells were generally considered immunosuppressive. This view has led to effective therapies reinvigorating tumor-reactive T cells; however, targeting the immunosuppressive effects of macrophages and neutrophils to boost the cancer immunity cycle was clinically less successful.

Sex differences in the efficacy of angiotensin receptor blockers on kidney and cardiovascular outcomes among individuals with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease: post hoc analyses of the RENAAL and IDNT trials.

Aims/hypothesis: Our aim was to assess sex differences in the efficacy of angiotensin receptor blockers (i.e. losartan and irbesartan) on kidney and cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease.

Sex-based differences in risk of revision for infection after hip, knee, shoulder, and ankle arthroplasty in osteoarthritis patients: a multinational registry study of 4,800,000 implants.

Background And Purpose:  We aimed to determine sex differences for periprosthetic joint infections after primary arthroplasty of the hip, knee, ankle, and shoulder in osteoarthritis patients in an international perspective.

Methods:  This is a multinational combined arthroplasty registry study. Each arthroplasty registry performed Cox-regression analysis of their data and reported the crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with an a priori designed data form.

Pessary or cerclage (PC study) to prevent recurrent preterm birth: a non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Previous spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a strong risk indicator for recurrent preterm birth (PTB). Cervical cerclage is an accepted intervention to prevent recurrent PTB in high risk patients. Cervical pessary might be a less invasive alternative.

Endothelin receptor antagonists in chronic kidney disease.

Endothelin-1 is a potent vasoconstrictor that has diverse physiological functions in the kidney, including in the regulation of blood flow and glomerular filtration, electrolyte homeostasis and endothelial function. Overexpression of endothelin-1 contributes to the pathophysiology of both diabetic and non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD). Selective endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) that target the endothelin A (ET) receptor have demonstrated benefits in animal models of kidney disease and in clinical trials.

Molecular-scale in-operando reconfigurable electronic hardware.

It is challenging to reconfigure devices at molecular length scales. Here we report molecular junctions based on molecular switches that toggle stably and reliably between multiple operations to reconfigure electronic devices at molecular length scales. Rather than static on/off switches that always revert to the same state, our voltage-driven molecular device dynamically switches between high and low conduction states during six consecutive proton-coupled electron transfer steps.

Methadone-Buprenorphine Transfers Using Low Dosing of Buprenorphine: An Open-Label, Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.

Aims: To compare a low-dosing protocol to standard practice for methadone-buprenorphine transfers.

Methods: We undertook a nonrandomized open-label clinical trial across 8 sites from NSW, Australia. Participants prescribed methadone wishing to transfer to buprenorphine could either choose or be randomized to a low-dose transfer or standard care transfer as per NSW health guidelines.

New insights into the impact of bed rest on lumbopelvic muscles: A computer-vision model approach to measure fat fraction changes.

Space agencies plan crewed missions to the Moon and Mars. However, microgravity-induced lumbopelvic deconditioning, characterized by an increased fat fraction (FF) due to reduced physical activity, poses a significant challenge to spine health. This study investigates the spatial distribution of FF in the lumbopelvic muscles to identify the most affected regions by deconditioning, utilizing a computer-vision model and a tile-based approach to assess FF changes.

Non-invasive in vivo sensing of bacterial implant infection using catalytically-optimised gold nanocluster-loaded liposomes for urinary readout.

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of nosocomial implant-associated infections, causing significant morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective diagnostics. Here, we optimise the synthesis of renal-clearable gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for enhanced catalytic activity with the aim of developing a sensitive colourimetric diagnostic for bacterial infection. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirm the stability of glutathione-coated AuNCs and surface access for peroxidase-like activity in complex physiological environments.

Gut microbiota strain richness is species specific and affects engraftment.

Despite the fundamental role of bacterial strain variation in gut microbiota function, the number of unique strains of a species that can stably colonize the human intestine is still unknown for almost all species. Here we determine the strain richness (SR) of common gut species using thousands of sequenced bacterial isolates with paired metagenomes. We show that SR varies across species, is transferable by faecal microbiota transplantation, and is uniquely low in the gut compared with soil and lake environments.