In vivo brain delivery of BBB-enabled iduronate 2-sulfatase in rats.

Background: Iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) deficiency (MPS II; Hunter syndrome) is a disorder that exhibits peripheral and CNS pathology. The blood brain barrier (BBB) prevents systemic enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) from alleviating CNS pathology. We aimed to enable brain delivery of systemic ERT by using molecular BBB-Trojans targeting endothelial transcytosis receptors.

Synchronous clonally related anaplastic large cell lymphoma and malignant histiocytosis.

Background: Synchronous malignant histiocytoses are rare conditions that occur concurrently with another hematologic neoplasm. Most reported cases are associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, while associations with T-cell hemopathies are less common. These two diseases may share mutations and/or cytogenetic anomalies, which can lead to malignant proliferations.

A note on using random starting values in small sample SEM.

Model estimation for SEM analyses in commonly used software typically involves iterative optimization procedures, which can lead to nonconvergence issues. In this paper, we propose using random starting values as an alternative to the current default strategies. By drawing from uniform distributions within data-driven lower and upper bounds (see De Jonckere et al.

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030.

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact-and possibly depend on-changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change.

Impact of irrelevant speech and non-speech sounds on serial recall of verbal and spatial items in children and adults.

Short-term memory for sequences of verbal items such as written words is reliably impaired by task-irrelevant background sounds, a phenomenon known as the "Irrelevant Sound Effect" (ISE). Different theoretical accounts have been proposed to explain the mechanisms underlying the ISE. Some of these assume specific interference between obligatory sound processing and phonological or serial order representations generated during task performance, whereas other posit that background sounds involuntarily divert attention away from the focal task.

Transarterial Radioembolisation with Y90 Resin Microspheres and the Effect of Reimbursement Criteria in France: Final Results of the CIRT-FR Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: This analysis of the CIRSE Registry for SIR-Spheres Therapy in France, CIRT-FR, reports on real-world outcomes of transarterial radioembolisation (TARE) with Y90 resin microspheres for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) patients in France, focusing on safety, effectiveness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results on patients treated based on national reimbursement criteria are discussed here.

Methods: Prospective, multicentre, observational study of HCC and CRLM patients treated between August 2017 and July 2020 with TARE Y90 resin microspheres.

Metagenome-guided culturomics for the targeted enrichment of gut microbes.

The gut microbiome significantly impacts human health, yet cultivation challenges hinder its exploration. Here, we combine deep whole-metagenome sequencing with culturomics to selectively enrich for taxa and functional capabilities of interest. Using a modified commercial base medium, 50 growth modifications were evaluated, spanning antibiotics, physico-chemical conditions, and bioactive compounds.

Large Language Models lack essential metacognition for reliable medical reasoning.

Large Language Models have demonstrated expert-level accuracy on medical board examinations, suggesting potential for clinical decision support systems. However, their metacognitive abilities, crucial for medical decision-making, remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, we developed MetaMedQA, a benchmark incorporating confidence scores and metacognitive tasks into multiple-choice medical questions.

Factors Associated With Prolonged Venous Transit in Large Vessel Occlusion Acute Ischemic Strokes.

Background And Purpose: Prolonged venous transit (PVT), derived from computed tomography perfusion (CTP) time-to-maximum (T) maps, reflects compromised venous outflow (VO) in acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO). Poor VO is associated with worse clinical outcomes, but pre-treatment markers predictive of PVT are not well described.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 189 patients with anterior circulation AIS-LVO who underwent baseline CT evaluation, including non-contrast CT, CT angiography, and CTP.

Association of Burnout and Intention-To-Leave the Job With Objective Nursing Workload and Nursing Working Environment: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Intensive Care Nurses.

Aim: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of burnout risk and intention-to-leave among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and analyse the association of these with workload and work environment.

Design: A cross-sectional survey of nurses working in ICUs was conducted in France between 15 January 2024 and 15 April 2024 alongside a longitudinal assessment of workload during the same period.

Methods: ICU nurse workload was assessed using the Nursing Activities Score (NAS).

Protein abundance of drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes in paired healthy and tumor tissue from colorectal cancer patients.

The widespread prevalence of colorectal cancer and its high mortality rate emphasize the urgent need for more effective therapies. When developing new drug products, a key aspect is ensuring that sufficiently high concentrations of the active drug are reached at the site of action. Drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes can significantly influence the absorption and local accumulation of drugs in intestinal tissue.

Achilles Tendon Mechanical But Not Morphological Properties Change with Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy.

Purpose: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is associated with altered tendon's morphological and mechanical properties, yet it is unclear whether these properties are reversed upon mechanical loading to promote tendon healing. This study aims to determine the extent to which pathological tendon's morphological and mechanical properties adapt throughout a 12-week eccentric rehabilitation protocol.

Methods: Forty participants with midportion AT were recruited and participated in a 12-week eccentric rehabilitation program.

A Single Night in Hypoxia Either with or without Ketone Ester Ingestion Reduces Sleep Quality Without Impacting Next Day Exercise Performance.

Background: Sleeping at altitude is highly common in athletes as an integral part of altitude training camps or sport competitions. However, concerns have been raised due to expected negative effects on sleep quality, thereby potentially hampering exercise recovery and next-day exercise performance. We recently showed that ketone ester (KE) ingestion beneficially impacted sleep following strenuous, late evening exercise in normoxia, and alleviated hypoxemia.

Alpha Atlas: Mapping global production of α-emitting radionuclides for targeted alpha therapy.

Targeted Alpha Therapy has shown great promise in cancer treatment, sparking significant interest over recent decades. However, its broad adoption has been impeded by the scarcity of alpha-emitters and the complexities related to their use. The availability of these radionuclides is often constrained by the intricate production processes and purification, as well as regulatory and logistical challenges.

AI-derived automated quantification of cardiac chambers and myocardium from non-contrast CT: Prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events in asymptomatic subjects.

Background And Aims: The significance of left ventricular mass and chamber volumes from non-contrast computed tomography (CT) for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has not been studied. Our objective was to evaluate the role of artificial intelligence-enabled multi-chamber cardiac volumetry from non-contrast CT for long-term risk stratification in asymptomatic subjects without known coronary artery disease.

Methods: Our study included 2022 asymptomatic individuals (55.

Towards enhancing phytoremediation: The effect of syringic acid, a plant secondary metabolite, on the presence of phenoxy herbicide-tolerant endophytic bacteria.

Among emerging pollutants, residuals of phenoxy herbicides, including 2-chloro-4-methylphenoxy acid (MCPA), are frequently detected in non-targeted areas. MCPA can be removed from environmental matrices using biological remediation methods including endophyte-assisted phytoremediation. The interactions between selected plants excreting to the rhizosphere plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) and plant-associated bacteria (incl.

A graph neural network-based model with out-of-distribution robustness for enhancing antiretroviral therapy outcome prediction for HIV-1.

Predicting the outcome of antiretroviral therapies (ART) for HIV-1 is a pressing clinical challenge, especially when the ART includes drugs with limited effectiveness data. This scarcity of data can arise either due to the introduction of a new drug to the market or due to limited use in clinical settings, resulting in clinical dataset with highly unbalanced therapy representation. To tackle this issue, we introduce a novel joint fusion model, which combines features from a Fully Connected (FC) Neural Network and a Graph Neural Network (GNN) in a multi-modality fashion.

Vitamin D, acute respiratory infections, and Covid-19: The curse of small-size randomised trials. A critical review with meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Background: Randomised trials conducted from 2006 to 2021 indicated that vitamin D supplementation (VDS) was able to prevent severe COVID-19 and acute respiratory infections (ARI). However, larger randomised trials published in 2022 did not confirm the health benefits of VDS in COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To examine through a systematic review with meta-analysis the characteristics of randomised trials on VDS to COVID-19 patients and admission to intensive care unit (ICU), and of randomised trials on VDS for the prevention of ARI.

The burden of illness of the organ manifestations of systemic sclerosis: a pragmatic, targeted review.

Objectives: This structured, targeted literature review aimed to assess the mortality, humanistic and economic burden of eight organ manifestations which are commonly experienced by systemic sclerosis patients.

Methods: Identification of relevant literature was carried out by searching in Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE, PubMed, and NHS Economic Evaluation Database in August 2023. Studies reporting original data on patients with systemic sclerosis with at least one of eight organ manifestations (interstitial lung disease and/or pulmonary hypertension, skin, peripheral vascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, cardiac or renal involvement) published within the last 15 years were included.

Interpretable machine learning models for COPD ease of breathing estimation.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide and greatly reduces the quality of life. Utilizing remote monitoring has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce exacerbations, but remains an ongoing area of research. We introduce a novel method for estimating changes in ease of breathing for COPD patients, using obstructed breathing data collected via wearables.

Dynamics of fungal endophytic communities in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits through development is shaped by host phenolic compounds.

The physical and chemical properties of wild berry fruits change dramatically during development, and the ripe berries host species-specific endophytic communities. However, the development of fungal endophytic communities during berry ripening is unknown. We studied bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.