Towards faster quality control of personal radiation protective equipment using CT scout or a dedicated biplanar radiography device.

Quality control (QC) of personal radiation protective equipment (PRPE) is essential to detect tears and holes in the attenuating layers. Routinely, this QC is performed using fluoroscopy on a conventional X-ray table. However, such a QC procedure is laborious and time consuming.

Anatomy versus Shunt Fraction: Hemodynamic Consequences in Atrial Septal Defects and Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection - A comprehensive CMR study.

Aims: Atrial septal defect (ASD) and partial abnormal pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) are noncyanotic congenital heart defects (CHD) that produce a left-to-right shunt. This single-center retrospective study aimed to assess the hemodynamic impact of isolated ASD, isolated PAPVC, and ASD-associated PAPVC using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods And Results: From our CMR registry (2002-2024), 110 patients were included: isolated ASD (n=64), isolated PAPVC (n=18), ASD-associated PAPVC (n=28, mostly sinus venosus septal defects).

Proteomics- and metabolomics-based analysis of the regulation of germination in Norway maple and sycamore embryonic axes.

Norway maple and sycamore belong to the Acer genus and produce desiccation-tolerant and desiccation-sensitive seeds, respectively. We investigated the seed germination process at the imbibed and germinated stages using metabolomic and proteomic approaches to determine why sycamore seeds germinate earlier and are more successful at establishing seedlings than Norway maple seeds under controlled conditions. Embryonic axes and embryonic axes with protruded radicles were analyzed at the imbibed and germinated stages, respectively.

Revised method for constructing acoustic vulnerability curves in trees.

During drought, the formation of air bubbles known as embolisms in the water-conducting xylem reduces hydraulic conductivity, which can ultimately result in tree death. Accurately quantifying vulnerability to embolism formation is therefore essential for understanding tree hydraulics. Acoustic emission (AE) analysis offers a non-destructive method to monitor this process, yet the interpretation of captured signals remains debated.

Radiation exposure in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: Radiological imaging is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). With increasing awareness of radiation risks, imaging doses should be 'as low as reasonably achievable', with a risk level that one should try to stay underneath 75 mSv. However, real-world data on cumulative exposure are limited.

Human mobility and malaria risk in peri-urban and rural communities in the Peruvian Amazon.

Background: While the global burden of malaria cases has decreased over the last two decades, the disease remains a major international threat, even on the rise in many regions. More than 85% of Peruvian malaria cases are in the Amazonian region of Loreto. Internal mobility primarily related to occupation is thought to be primarily responsible for maintaining endemicity and introducing and reintroducing malaria parasites into areas of anophelism, a challenge for malaria eradication.

The MIR-NAT MAPT-AS1 does not regulate Tau expression in human neurons.

The MAPT gene encodes Tau protein, a member of the large family of microtubule-associated proteins. Tau forms large insoluble aggregates that are toxic to neurons in several neurological disorders, and neurofibrillary Tau tangles represent a key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Lowering Tau expression levels constitutes a potential treatment for AD but the mechanisms that regulate Tau expression at the transcriptional or translational level are not well understood.

Short-Term Effects of Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Therapy on the Phonation of Children With Vocal Fold Nodules: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The aim was to determine and compare the short-term effects of two intensive semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) programs, "straw phonation" (SP) and "resonant voice therapy" (RVT), on the phonation of children with vocal fold nodules.

Method: A pretest-posttest randomized controlled study design was used. Thirty children aged 6-12 years were randomly assigned to the SP group ( = 11), RVT group ( = 11), or control group receiving indirect treatment ( = 8) for their voice problems.

Association of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity with a high genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: Overlapping genes are involved with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DNA repair pathways. Therefore, we hypothesised that patients with a high polygenic risk score (PRS) for RA will have an increased risk of radiotherapy (RT) toxicity given the involvement of DNA repair.

Methods: Primary analysis was performed on 1494 prostate cancer, 483 lung cancer and 1820 breast cancer patients assessed for development of RT toxicity in the REQUITE study.

Quercetin Derivatives from Bidens pilosa Suppressed Cell Proliferation via Inhibition of RSK2 Kinase and Aldose Reductase Enzymes: UPLC-MS/MS, GC-MS, In Vitro, and Computational Studies.

Traditionally, Bidens pilosa L. is an edible herb utilized for various ailments. The study accomplished a complete analysis of B.

Rapidly spreading with OXA-48-like carbapenemases.

(mostly , ) with OXA-48-like carbapenemases (e.g., OXA-48, -181, -232, -244) are undermining the global efficiency of carbapenem therapy.

The peri-articular muscle envelope of the hip (PAME) shows atrophy in patients with refractory groin pain after iliopsoas tenotomy.

Background: Iliopsoas tenotomy is commonly used to address refractory groin pain resulting from iliopsoas tendinopathy. However, consensus and high-level research on its effectiveness are lacking, with concerns about poor outcomes and complications. Little is known of the effects of iliopsoas tenotomy on the peri-articular muscle envelope of the hip.

Decoding Microbial Plastic Colonisation: Multi-Omic Insights Into the Fast-Evolving Dynamics of Early-Stage Biofilms.

Marine plastispheres represent dynamic microhabitats where microorganisms colonise plastic debris and interact. Metaproteomics has provided novel insights into the metabolic processes within these communities; however, the early metabolic interactions driving the plastisphere formation remain unclear. This study utilised metaproteomic and metagenomic approaches to explore early plastisphere formation on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) over 3 (D3) and 7 (D7) days, focusing on microbial diversity, activity and biofilm development.

Research Progress in 3D Printed Biobased and Biodegradable Polyester/Ceramic Composite Materials: Applications and Challenges in Bone Tissue Engineering.

Transplantation of bone implants is currently recognized as one of the most effective means of treating bone defects. Biobased and biodegradable polyester composites combine the good mechanical and degradable properties of polyester, thereby providing an alternative for bone implant materials. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) accelerates bone defect repair by simulating the bone microenvironment.

European multicentre analysis of the implementation of robotic complete mesocolic excision for right-sided colon tumours.

Aim: Complete mesocolic excision (CME) is an oncologically driven technique for treating right colon cancer. While laparoscopic CME is technically demanding and has been associated with more complications, the robotic approach might reduce morbidity. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of stepwise implementation of robotic CME.

3D printed cacao-based formulations as nutrient carriers for immune system enhancement.

This study explores the feasibility of using raw Greek honey-infused cacao-based formulations for three-dimensional printing (3DP). It evaluates their physicochemical properties, thermal stability, and rheological behaviour. Three honey varieties, one of which was Lavender Honey (LH), were incorporated into cacao printlets to assess their impact on structural integrity and compatibility with Vitamin D3 (VitD3), a bioactive compound known for immune system enhancement.

Achievements, priorities and strategies in pediatric nephrology in Europe: need for unifying approaches or acceptance of differences?

Background: There is a lack of information on the current healthcare systems for children with kidney diseases across Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the different national approaches to the organization and delivery of pediatric nephrology services within Europe.

Methods: In 2020, the European society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) conducted a cross-sectional survey to identify the existing pediatric nephrology healthcare systems in 48 European countries covering a population of more than 200 million children.

Exploring perceptions and attitudes towards vaccines in a remote western DRC health zone.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) struggles with low full childhood vaccination coverage (around 50 %) and a high children-under-five mortality rate (79 deaths per 1000 live births). This situation is potentially exacerbated by vaccine hesitancy, which was identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top 10 global health threats in 2019. To gain deeper insights into levels of vaccine confidence possibly influencing vaccination coverage, we explored perceptions and attitudes towards childhood and adult vaccines in Boende (Tshuapa province, western DRC), which experienced an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and hosted the EBL2007 Ebola vaccine trial (2019-2022).

Factor Retention in Exploratory Multidimensional Item Response Theory.

Multidimensional Item Response Theory (MIRT) is applied routinely in developing educational and psychological assessment tools, for instance, for exploring multidimensional structures of items using exploratory MIRT. A critical decision in exploratory MIRT analyses is the number of factors to retain. Unfortunately, the comparative properties of statistical methods and innovative Machine Learning (ML) methods for factor retention in exploratory MIRT analyses are still not clear.

Complement activation drives the phagocytosis of necrotic cell debris and resolution of liver injury.

Cells die by necrosis due to excessive chemical or thermal stress, leading to plasma membrane rupture, release of intracellular components and severe inflammation. The clearance of necrotic cell debris is crucial for tissue recovery and injury resolution, however, the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood, especially . This study examined the role of complement proteins in promoting clearance of necrotic cell debris by leukocytes and their influence on liver regeneration.

Pro-active risk analysis of an in-house developed deep learning based autoplanning tool for breast Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy.

Background And Purpose: With the increasing amount of in-house created deep learning models in radiotherapy, it is important to know how to minimise the risks associated with the local clinical implementation prior to clinical use. The goal of this study is to give an example of how to identify the risks and find mitigation strategies to reduce these risks in an implemented workflow containing a deep learning based planning tool for breast Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy.

Materials And Methods: The deep learning model ran on a private Google Cloud environment for adequate computational capacity and was integrated into a workflow that could be initiated within the clinical Treatment Planning System (TPS).

The effects of diet enhancement on the health of commercial bumblebee colonies.

Unlabelled: Commercially reared bees provide economically important pollination services for a diversity of crops. Improving their health is important both to maximise their pollination services and to avoid possible pathogen spillover or spillback with wild pollinators. Diet quality may directly or indirectly affect diverse aspects of bumblebee health, including colony development, individual size and immune health, but the impact of this remains unclear.

Prognostic factors for overall survival in elderly patients with glioblastoma: Analysis of the pooled NOA-08 and Nordic trials with the CCTG-EORTC (CE.6) trial.

Background: The majority of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma are >60 years. Three randomized trials addressed the roles of radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) for elderly patients. NORDIC and NOA-08 compared RT versus TMZ, while CE.