How and why funders support engaged research.

Research that better aligns policy, practice, and research communities is gaining momentum around the world. This includes engaged research strategies that bring partners, and their diverse perspectives and kinds of knowledge, together to shape research agendas with on-the-ground-needs and to create dynamic problem-solving processes. These approaches aim to generate more equitable and effective solutions to societal challenges.

Unveiling Sociocultural Barriers to Breast Cancer Awareness Among the South Asian Population: Case Study of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.

Background: Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, are 2 densely populated South Asian neighboring regions with many socioeconomic and cultural similarities. In dealing with breast cancer (BC)-related issues, statistics show that people from these regions are having similar problems and fates. According to the Global Cancer Statistics 2020 and 2012 reports, for BC (particularly female BC), the age-standardized incidence rate is approximately 22 to 25 per 100,000 people, and the age-standardized mortality rate is approximately 11 to 13 per 100,000 for these areas.

Bacillus coagulans alleviates hepatic injury caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in rabbits.

Background: As an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is prone to causing a spectrum of diseases in rabbits when their immune system is compromised, which poses a threat to rabbit breeding industry. Bacillus coagulans (BC), recognized as an effective probiotic, confers a variety of benefits including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether dietary BC can effectively alleviate hepatic injury caused by KP.

Development and validation of a metabolic syndrome and its components to predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: An observational, single-center, cohort study.

To assess whether metabolic syndrome can be used as a reference index to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer (BC). Seventy cases of female BC patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment and surgical treatment at the Glandular Surgery Department of Hebei Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected, and clinical data such as puncture pathology were recorded. The clinical data were analyzed by 1-way analysis using the χ2 test, and further multifactorial logistic regression analysis was performed for statistically significant differences.

Comparative effectiveness of massage combined with lifestyle intervention and lifestyle intervention alone for simple obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This study aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness of massage combined with lifestyle intervention and lifestyle intervention alone in patients with simple obesity.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP Database, and Wanfang Data were searched. Meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

From Monocyclization to Pentacyclization: A Versatile Plant Cyclase Produces Diverse Sesterterpenes with Anti-Liver Fibrosis Potential.

A prolific multi-product sesterterpene synthase CbTPS1 is characterized from the medicinal Brassicaceae plant Capsella bursa-pastoris. Twenty different sesterterpenes including 16 undescribed compounds, possessing 10 different mono-/di-/tri-/tetra-/penta-carbocyclic skeletons, including the unique 15-membered macrocyclic and 24(15→14)-abeo-capbuane scaffolds, are isolated and structurally elucidated from engineered Escherichia coli strains expressing CbTPS1. Site-directed mutagenesis assisted by molecular dynamics simulations resulted in the variant L354M with up to 13.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy with Roflumilast Cream 0.15% in Patients Aged ≥6 Years with Atopic Dermatitis: A Phase 3 Open-Label Extension Trial.

Safety and efficacy of roflumilast cream 0.15% for atopic dermatitis (AD) were demonstrated in two 4-week phase 3 trials. Evaluate long-term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of roflumilast cream 0.

GraphkmerDTA: integrating local sequence patterns and topological information for drug-target binding affinity prediction and applications in multi-target anti-Alzheimer's drug discovery.

Identifying drug-target binding affinity (DTA) plays a critical role in early-stage drug discovery. Despite the availability of various existing methods, there are still two limitations. Firstly, sequence-based methods often extract features from fixed length protein sequences, requiring truncation or padding, which can result in information loss or the introduction of unwanted noise.

Development of a brief screening measure of unmet supportive care needs (SCNS-P&C-6) in caregivers of people with high-grade glioma.

Purpose: Informal caregivers of people with high grade glioma (HGG) often have high levels of unmet support needs. Routine screening for unmet needs can facilitate appropriate and timely access to supportive care. We aimed to develop a brief screening tool for HGG caregiver unmet needs, based on the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners & Caregivers (SCNS-P&C).

MicroRNA dynamics, PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling, and their relationship to breast cancer: prospects for pharmaceuticals and natural product application.

Background: Globally, Breast Cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer in women and has a major negative impact on the physical and emotional well-being of its patients as well as one of the most common cancers to be diagnosed. Numerous studies have been published to identify various molecular pathways, including PI3K/AKT/PTEN. Moreover, growing evidence suggests that miRNAs have been found to play a vital role in the growth and carcinogenesis of tumors.

Ecofriendly and biocompatible biochars derived from waste-branches for direct and efficient solid-phase extraction of benzodiazepines in crude urine sample prior to LC-MS/MS.

Biochars (BCs) derived from waste-branches of apple tree, grape tree, and oak were developed for direct solid-phase extraction (SPE) of five benzodiazepines (BZDs) in crude urine samples prior to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination. Scanning electron microscopy, elemental analyzer, X-ray diffractometry, N adsorption/desorption experiments, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry characterizations revealed the existence of their mesoporous structure and numerous oxygen-containing functional groups. The obtained BCs not only possessed high affinity towards BZDs via π-π and hydrogen bond interactions, but also afforded the great biocompatibility of excluding interfering components from undiluted urine samples when using SPE adsorbents.

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Aspects of Dermatophytosis in Guiyang, Southwest China (2017-2023): A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

Epidemiological studies combining taxonomic and clinical data have been limited globally, particularly Guiyang, the most under-developed economic provincial capital city in southwestern China. A retrospective analysis was performed of dermatophyte epidemiology involving all culture-positive cases received between May 2017 and May 2023 at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 391 dermatophyte isolates collected from patients using the rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences.

Deep learning-based lymph node metastasis status predicts prognosis from muscle-invasive bladder cancer histopathology.

Purpose: To develop a deep learning (DL) model based on primary tumor tissue to predict the lymph node metastasis (LNM) status of muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), while validating the prognostic value of the predicted aiN score in MIBC patients.

Methods: A total of 323 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used as the training and internal validation set, with image features extracted using a visual encoder called UNI. We investigated the ability to predict LNM status while assessing the prognostic value of aiN score.

A systematic review of salivary gland hypofunction and/or xerostomia induced by non-surgical cancer therapies: prevention strategies.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to assess the updated literature for the prevention of salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia induced by non-surgical cancer therapies.

Methods: Electronic databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that investigated interventions to prevent salivary gland hypofunction and/or xerostomia. Literature search began from the 2010 systematic review publications from the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) up to February 2024.

Neurological confirmation of periplanone-D exploitation as a primary sex pheromone and counteractions of other components in the smoky brown cockroach Periplaneta fuliginosa.

The smoky brown cockroach, Periplaneta fuliginosa, is a peridomestic pest inhabiting broad regions of the world from temperate to subtropical zones. In common with other related species such as the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, female-emitted sex pheromone components, named periplanones, are known to be key volatiles that elicit long-range attraction and courtship rituals in males. How periplanones are processed in the nervous system has been entirely unexplored in P.

Decreased attenuation difference between non-contrast and portal-venous phases of CT predicts the ultrasonography-unspecified adnexal torsion.

Objectives: To evaluate the value of contrast-enhanced CT in diagnosing ultrasonography-unspecified adnexal torsion (AT).

Methods: Surgically confirmed patients with painful pelvic masses (n = 165) were retrospectively collected from two institutes. Two senior radiologists independently reviewed the CT images and determined the Hounsfield unit difference between non-contrast vs portal venous phases (ΔHU) in both derivation and validation samples.

Long-term mitochondrial and metabolic impairment in lymphocytes of subjects who recovered after severe COVID-19.

The underlying mechanisms explaining the differential course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the potential clinical consequences after COVID-19 resolution have not been fully elucidated. As a dysregulated mitochondrial activity could impair the immune response, we explored long-lasting changes in mitochondrial functionality, circulating cytokine levels, and metabolomic profiles of infected individuals after symptoms resolution, to evaluate whether a complete recovery could be achieved. Results of this pilot study evidenced that different parameters of aerobic respiration in lymphocytes of individuals recuperated from a severe course lagged behind those shown upon mild COVID-19 recovery, in basal conditions and after simulated reinfection, and they also showed altered glycolytic capacity.

The tRF-33/IGF1 Axis Dysregulates Mitochondrial Homeostasis in HER2-Negative Breast Cancer.

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), a recently identified non-coding RNA subset, are mainly classified into tRNA-derived small RNA fragments (tRFs) and tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs). tsRNAs dysregulation is frequently observed in numerous cancer types, suggesting involvement in tumorigenesis. However, their functions in breast cancer (BC) remain to be fully understood.

Response of Differently Structured Dental Polymer-Based Composites to Increasingly Aggressive Aging Conditions.

Objective: It is hypothesized that the way nano- and micro-hybrid polymer-based composites are structured and cured impacts the way they respond to aging.

Material And Methods: A polymer-ceramic interpenetrating network composite (Vita Enamic/VE), an industrially polymerized (Brillinat CriosST/BC), and an in situ light-cured composite with discrete inorganic fillers (Admira Fusion5/AF5) were selected. Specimens (308) were either cut from CAD/CAM blocks (VE/BC) or condensed and cured in white polyoxymethylene molds (AF5) and subjected to four different aging conditions ( = 22): (a) 24 h storage in distilled water at 37 °C; (b) 24 h storage in distilled water at 37 °C followed by thermal cycling for 10,000 cycles 5/55 °C (TC); (c) TC followed by storage in a 75% ethanol-water solution; and (d) TC followed by a 3-week demineralization/remineralization cycling.

Sustainable Valorization of Rice Straw into Biochar and Carbon Dots Using a Novel One-Pot Approach for Dual Applications in Detection and Removal of Lead Ions.

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic heavy metal that causes significant health hazards and environmental damage. Thus, the detection and removal of Pb ions in freshwater sources are imperative for safeguarding public health and the environment. Moreover, the transformation of single resources into multiple high-value products is vital for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Behind the Frontlines: Insights for Supporting Mental Health and Staff Retention in the Long-Term Care Workforce.

: Canada's long-term care (LTC) sector is struggling with a significant staffing crisis related to shortages, high-turnover rate, and challenging working conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues and emphasized the need for improved mental health support for LTC staff. Understanding and addressing the wellbeing of staff is important for ensuring quality of care and promoting a positive work environment for a healthy workforce.

Bone Turnover Markers Predict Changes in Bone Mineral Density in Men Treated with Abaloparatide: Results from ATOM.

Early increases in bone turnover markers (BTMs) in response to anabolic therapy correlate with 18-month bone mineral density (BMD) increases in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; however, this relationship has not been assessed in men. In this analysis, the correlation between changes from baseline in fasting intact serum procollagen type I N propeptide (PINP) and serum carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and percent increase from baseline in BMD at 12 months in men from the randomized phase 3 ATOM study (NCT03512262) were evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficients. The uncoupling index (UI), a measure of the balance between markers of bone formation (PINP) and bone resorption (CTX), with positive UI favoring bone formation, was calculated.

Comparison of reconstruction techniques after pancreatoduodenectomy: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: There is controversy regarding which is the best reconstruction technique after the pancreatoduodenectomy. Currently, there are no studies comparing the three most frequent reconstruction techniques: Whipple + Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy (WRYGJ), pyloric-preserving + Billroth II (PPBII), and Whipple + BII (WBII).

Methods: Between 2012 and March 2023, 246 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with the following type of reconstruction techniques: (1) WRYGJ: 40 patients; (2) PPBII: 118 patients; and (3) WBII: 88 patients.

Parabrachial CGRP neurons modulate active defensive behavior under a naturalistic threat.

Recent studies suggest that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) represent aversive information and signal a general alarm to the forebrain. If CGRP neurons serve as a true general alarm, their activation would modulate both passive nad active defensive behaviors depending on the magnitude and context of the threat. However, most prior research has focused on the role of CGRP neurons in passive freezing responses, with limited exploration of their involvement in active defensive behaviors.

Molecular Mechanisms of circKIF4A in Breast Cancer Progression.

Aim: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide, necessitating continued research into its molecular mechanisms. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their role in various cancers, including BC. This study explores the role of circRNA kinesin family member 4A (circKIF4A) in BC progression and its underlying molecular mechanisms.