ERS Congress 2024: highlights from the Allied Respiratory Professionals Assembly.

https://bit.ly/3ZPrlZw.

Design and evaluation of AE4W: An active and flexible shaft-driven shoulder exoskeleton for workers.

The wide adoption of occupational shoulder exoskeletons in industrial settings remains limited. Passive exoskeletons were proved effective in a limited amount of application scenarios, such as (quasi-)static overhead handling tasks. Quasi-active devices, albeit representing an improved version of their passive predecessors, do not allow full modulation of the amount of assistance delivered to the user, lacking versatility and adaptability in assisting various dynamic tasks.

Data altruism and the "consent" question: a study into the "consent" models used under the GDPR and how the data altruism mechanism can act as a potential solution for the research community in the reuse of health data.

Introduction: The General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR") legal basis for obtaining consent for the processing of personal data for research purposes, where those purposes cannot be fully specified in advance, is provided for in Articles 6, 7 and Recital 33. However, GDPR's requirements for obtaining consent, as to the secondary use and sharing of data in research, have been argued to have generated confusion, whilst the conflicts between the Regulation itself, its practical application and research ethics are well-documented (1). The requirements for "informed consent", as defined within the GDPR, have not been well defined in the context of genome research or clinical trials (2), which has in turn led to the implementation and interpretation of the lawful basis to span into different idiosyncratic models.

Aspirin-triggered DHA metabolites inhibit angiogenesis.

Background And Aim: Blood vessels supply oxygen, nutrients and provide gateways for immune surveillance. Since this network nourishes all tissues, vessel abnormalities contribute to many diseases, such as cancer. One of the potential targets for Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in cancer is suppressing angiogenesis, a process of new blood vessel formation within tumors.

Dissemination strategies of clinical practice guidelines-mixed methods evidence synthesis protocol.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are shared through various dissemination strategies using a range of dissemination products and channels. However, users may have different needs for accessing and understanding them. Patients and carers from low- and middle-income countries might face challenges in accessing CPGs such as inadequate systems for printed book distribution and insufficient and substandard photocopies.

Correction: Single crystal formation in core-shell capsules.

Correction for 'Single crystal formation in core-shell capsules' by Marie Mettler , , 2023, , 12739-12742, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CC03727D.

Reassessing the role of the p.(Arg304Gln) missense AIP variant in pituitary tumorigenesis.

Objective: Heterozygous germline loss-of-function variants in AIP are associated with young-onset growth hormone and/or prolactin-secreting pituitary tumours. However, the pathogenic role of the c.911G>A; p.

Boosting the Pixel Acquisition Rate of Elemental Mapping with Laser Ablation-ICP-Mass Spectrometry to 1000 Hz.

Novel low-dispersion ablation cell designs and highly efficient aerosol transport systems have enabled fast elemental mapping using laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) at high spatial resolution and its application in various research fields. Nowadays, the fastest low-dispersion setups enable narrow single pulse responses (SPR, duration of the transient signal observed upon a single laser shot), which enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and boost the pixel acquisition rate attainable in elemental mapping applications. In this work, the analytical performance of a nanosecond 193 nm ArF* excimer-based kHz laser in combination with a low-dispersion tube-type ablation cell, coupled to an ICP-mass spectrometer equipped with a time-of-flight (ToF) analyzer, was evaluated.

Cutaneous Hemangioma With Epithelioid Features Harboring TPM3/4::ALK Fusions: A Distinct Entity or a Molecular Variant of Epithelioid Hemangioma?

Vascular neoplasms with epithelioid cytomorphology encompass a wide spectrum of benign and malignant lesions, including epithelioid hemangioma (EH), cutaneous epithelioid angiomatous nodule (CEAN), epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), and epithelioid angiosarcoma (EAS). Recently, the first case of a cutaneous hemangioma with epithelioid features harboring a TPM3::ALK fusion was reported. Herein, we report 4 additional cases, including 1 case with an alternate TPM4::ALK fusion, and expand on the clinicopathologic and molecular genetic features of these unusual vascular lesions.

Elective uterine preservation: a novel concept to tackle reproductive ageing. Fertility preservation beyond ovaries.

With a growing number of women in developed countries having children later in life, it is time to rethink women's reproductive health. This trend of 'delayed parenthood' reflects a complex interplay of labour market rules, personal choices, rarefying social connections and the renowned possibilities of assisted reproductive technology (ART). While ART offers support, its success wanes with age, prompting a rise in additional strategies such as elective ovarian cryopreservation.

Profile of Chief Medical Officers and performance of health zones in crisis contexts: a cross-sectional study in three provinces of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Context: In crisis-affected health systems, the performance of health zones (also known as health districts) is challenged by recurrent armed conflicts and state fragility. The profiles of health zone managers and contextual factors can significantly influence the zones' ability to effectively respond to population health needs. This study explores these interactions to identify key factors associated with health zones performances in three provinces of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region that has endured over three decades of conflict.

Compliance with transmission-based precautions, and associated factors among healthcare providers in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Transmission-based precautions (TBP) and the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential in preventing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and in controlling the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study, therefore, aimed to determine healthcare providers' compliance with TBP and its determinants in healthcare settings to help curb the burden of HAIs and AMR.

Method: This study was a cross-sectional, hospital-based research conducted among healthcare providers at four health facilities in the Fako division of Cameroon, from January 1 to May 31, 2024.

Establishing a European wastewater pathogen monitoring network employing aviation samples: a proof of concept.

Pathogens know no borders, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for comparable, globally accessible pathogen data. This paper proposes a European wastewater pathogen monitoring network using aircraft and airport samples as a proof of concept for an effective cross-national surveillance system. The study emphasizes the importance of genomic data collection from strategic sites to produce high-value data for disease surveillance and epidemiological analysis.

REM sleep quality is associated with balanced tonic activity of the locus coeruleus during wakefulness.

Background: Animal studies established that the locus coeruleus (LC) plays important roles in sleep and wakefulness regulation. Whether it contributes to sleep variability in humans is not yet established. Here, we investigated if the in vivo activity of the LC is related to the variability in the quality of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

A versatile mouse model to advance human microglia transplantation research in neurodegenerative diseases.

Background: Recent studies highlight the critical role of microglia in neurodegenerative disorders, and emphasize the need for humanized models to accurately study microglial responses. Human-mouse microglia xenotransplantation models are a valuable platform for functional studies and for testing therapeutic approaches, yet currently those models are only available for academic research. This hampers their implementation for the development and testing of medication that targets human microglia.

Impact of deep learning denoising on kinetic modelling for low-dose dynamic PET: application to single- and dual-tracer imaging protocols.

Purpose: Long-axial field-of-view PET scanners capture multi-organ tracer distribution with high sensitivity, enabling lower dose dynamic protocols and dual-tracer imaging for comprehensive disease characterization. However, reducing dose may compromise data quality and time-activity curve (TAC) fitting, leading to higher bias in kinetic parameters. Parametric imaging poses further challenges due to noise amplification in voxel-based modelling.

A patient first perspective of sleep disturbance across therapeutic areas: a systematic literature review of qualitative studies.

Background: Sleep, a vital pillar of health, impacts daily functioning and overall quality of life. Despite extensive research on sleep disturbances within specific therapeutic areas (TAs), there's limited understanding of how these disturbances affect patients across multiple TAs. This systematic literature review adopts a patient-centered approach to explore the meaningful aspects of health and concepts of interest relating to sleep and sleep disturbances across a variety of TAs, utilizing qualitative research to bridge the gap between patient experiences and clinical measures.

Emerging sensor technologies and physics-guided methods for monitoring automotive lithium-based batteries.

As the automotive industry undergoes a major shift to electric propulsion, reliable assessment of battery health and potential safety issues is critical. This review covers advances in sensor technology, from mechanical and gas sensors to ultrasonic imaging techniques that provide insight into the complex structures and dynamics of lithium-ion batteries. In addition, we explore the integration of physics-guided machine learning methods with multi-sensor systems to improve the accuracy of battery modeling and monitoring.

Enhancing fetal ultrasound image quality and anatomical plane recognition in low-resource settings using super-resolution models.

Super-resolution (SR) techniques present a suitable solution to increase the image resolution acquired using an ultrasound device characterized by a low image resolution. This can be particularly beneficial in low-resource imaging settings. This work surveys advanced SR techniques applied to enhance the resolution and quality of fetal ultrasound images, focusing Dual back-projection based internal learning (DBPISR) technique, which utilizes internal learning for blind super-resolution, as opposed to blind super-resolution generative adversarial network (BSRGAN), real-world enhanced super-resolution generative adversarial network (Real-ESRGAN), swin transformer for image restoration (SwinIR) and SwinIR-Large.

Update on preclinical models of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction: Challenges and perspectives. A scientific statement of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC, the ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology, and the ESC Working Group on Cellular Biology of the Heart.

New anticancer therapies with potential cardiovascular side effects are continuously being introduced into clinical practice, with new and often unexpected toxicities becoming apparent only after clinical introduction. These unknown toxicities should be identified and understood beforehand to better prepare patients and physicians, enabling the implementation of effective treatments. Therefore, there is a crucial need for appropriate preclinical models to understand the biological basis of their cardiotoxicity.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis Induced by Modern Wound Dressings: A Comprehensive Analysis of Risks and Allergenic Components.

Modern wound dressings have revolutionised wound care, offering optimal healing environments. However, their widespread use has led to a significant increase in allergic reactions, particularly among patients with chronic leg ulcers. The complex chemical compositions of these dressings can trigger allergic responses.