Deep Learning-Based Glioma Segmentation of 2D Intraoperative Ultrasound Images: A Multicenter Study Using the Brain Tumor Intraoperative Ultrasound Database (BraTioUS).

Intraoperative ultrasound (ioUS) provides real-time imaging during neurosurgical procedures, with advantages such as portability and cost-effectiveness. Accurate tumor segmentation has the potential to substantially enhance the interpretability of ioUS images; however, its implementation is limited by persistent challenges, including noise, artifacts, and anatomical variability. This study aims to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) model for glioma segmentation in ioUS images via a multicenter dataset.

Prognostic Modeling of Overall Survival in Glioblastoma Using Radiomic Features Derived from Intraoperative Ultrasound: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background: Accurate prognostic models are essential for optimizing treatment strategies for glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumor. While other neuroimaging modalities have demonstrated utility in predicting overall survival (OS), intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) remains underexplored for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic potential of iUS radiomics in glioblastoma patients in a multi-institutional cohort.

Endovascular Downstaging: A New Method for Managing Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Thrombus Invading the Inferior Vena Cava Above the Hepatic Veins (Level III) or into the Heart (Level IV).

Background: Renal cell carcinoma tends to invade venous structures, frequently extending beyond the inferior vena cava and into the heart itself, such as into the right atrium or right ventricle. Resection of tumor burden, particularly tumor thrombus, often requires cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), which is not feasible for all patients.

Methods: Described in this study is a novel, minimally invasive endovascular approach involving endovascular thrombectomy as a viable approach in these select patients.

Unmasking Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in United States Chordoma Clinical Trials: Systematic Review.

Background: Chordoma is a rare bone cancer with limited treatment options. Clinical trials are crucial for developing effective therapies, but their success depends on including diverse patient populations. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the reporting of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in United States clinical trials exploring treatment for chordoma.

Evaluating the Quality of Real-World Data on Adherence to Oral Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients: How Real Is Real-World Data?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare estimates of adherence to oral endocrine therapy (OET) based on real-world data (RWD) and on clinical evaluation in people diagnosed with breast cancer in the public healthcare system in Catalonia (Spain).

Methods: We conducted two retrospective cohort studies. Cohort 1 (RWD) consisted of women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 in the public healthcare system of Catalonia (Spain).

The Effect of Prebiotics, Alone or as Part of Synbiotics, on Cardiometabolic Parameters in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

/: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of prebiotics, alone or as part of synbiotics, on cardiometabolic parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women. : Databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched for relevant randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) until 12 December 2024. Changes in mean ± standard deviations were extracted and combined using a random-effects model.

Changes in Locomotor Activity Observed During Acute Nicotine Withdrawal Can Be Attenuated by Ghrelin and GHRP-6 in Rats.

Ghrelin and growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) are peptides which can stimulate GH release, acting through the same receptor. Ghrelin and its receptor have been involved in reward sensation and addiction induced by natural and artificial drugs, including nicotine. The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of ghrelin and GHRP-6 on the horizontal and vertical activity in rats exposed to chronic nicotine treatment followed by acute nicotine withdrawal.

Exploring in Ischemic Stroke and Moyamoya Disease: From Cellular Models to Clinical Insights.

Advances in stroke genetics have highlighted the critical role of rare genetic variants in cerebrovascular diseases, with emerging as a key player in ischemic stroke and Moyamoya disease (MMD). Initially identified as the primary susceptibility gene for MMD, -notably the p.R4810K variant-has been strongly linked to intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) and various ischemic stroke subtypes, particularly in East Asian populations.

Patterns of Change in Athletic Identity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Changes in athletic identity have been documented after injury and other sport transitions in nomothetic investigations. Patterns of change in athletic identity after injury have not been examined systematically at the individual level. In the current study, secondary analyses were performed on two data sets ( = 43 and = 80) in which athletic identity values were available for before and at least six months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Health Associations of Positive Childhood Experiences: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

We report the results of a scoping review of the literature investigating associations between positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and selected health outcomes to identify which have the highest level of research activity based on the indexed academic literature. Yielded articles underwent title/abstract (Ti/Ab) and full text screening utilizing inclusion/exclusion criteria. The review was guided by PCE categories from the Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences framework: relationships, environment, engagement, and emotional growth.

Improving brain health via the central executive network.

Cognitive and physical stress have significant effects on brain health, particularly through their influence on the central executive network (CEN). The CEN, which includes regions such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex and inferior parietal lobe, is central to managing the demands of cognitively challenging motor tasks. Acute stress can temporarily reduce connectivity within the CEN, leading to impaired cognitive function and emotional states.

Clinical and molecular characteristics and long-term outcomes of pediatric intracranial meningiomas: a comprehensive analysis from a single neurosurgical center.

Background: Meningioma represents the most common intracranial tumor in adults. However, it is rare in pediatric patients. We aimed to demonstrate the clinicopathological characteristics and long-term outcome of pediatric meningiomas (PMs).

Biomechanical models in the lower-limb exoskeletons development: a review.

Lower limb exoskeletons serve multiple purposes, like supporting and augmenting movement. Biomechanical models are practical tools to understand human movement, and motor control. This paper provides an overview of these models and a comprehensive review of the current applications of them in assistive device development.

Peripheral blood miRNAs are associated with airflow below threshold in children with asthma.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators involved in inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. Poor lung function and airflow issues in childhood are linked to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood.

Methods: We analyzed small RNA-Seq data from 365 peripheral whole blood samples from the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) for association with airflow levels measured by FEV1/FVC.

Trait mindfulness in early pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Mindfulness centered therapy has been shown to improve perinatal mental health outcomes. There is emerging evidence that mindfulness training (MT) can also be harnessed to improve somatic outcomes. Yet, little is known about which perinatal populations might benefit the most from mindfulness training interventions.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of ketamine in Rett syndrome.

Background: Preclinical studies and anecdotal case reports support the potential therapeutic benefit of low-dose oral ketamine as a treatment of clinical symptoms in Rett syndrome (RTT); however, no controlled studies have been conducted in RTT to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy.

Design: This was a sequentially initiated, dose-escalating cohort, placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized sequence, cross-over study of oral ketamine in 6-12-year-old girls with RTT to evaluate short-term safety and tolerability and explore efficacy.

Methods: Participants were randomized to either five days treatment with oral ketamine or matched placebo, followed by a nine-day wash-out period and then crossed-over to the opposite treatment.

Genome-wide association analysis of composite sleep health scores in 413,904 individuals.

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of several individual sleep traits have identified hundreds of genetic loci, suggesting diverse mechanisms. Moreover, sleep traits are moderately correlated, so together may provide a more complete picture of sleep health, while illuminating distinct domains. Here we construct novel sleep health scores (SHSs) incorporating five core self-report measures: sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, chronotype, snoring, and daytime sleepiness, using additive (SHS-ADD) and five principal components-based (SHS-PCs) approaches.

Repurposing neuroleptics: clozapine as a novel, adjuvant therapy for melanoma brain metastases.

The blood-brain barrier and the distinct brain immunology provide challenges in translating commonly used chemotherapeutics to treat intracranial tumors. Previous reports suggest anti-tumoral effects of antipsychotics, encouraging investigations into potential treatment effects of neuroleptics on brain metastases. For the first time, the therapeutic potential of the antipsychotic drug clozapine in treating melanoma brain metastases (MBM) was investigated using three human MBM cell lines.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Purpose Of Review: Antimicrobial resistance in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has become an urgent global public health threat, raising the specter of untreatable infections. This review summarizes the determinants of resistance among the five most common curable STIs Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Treponema pallidum, and Trichomonas vaginalis, as well as strategies to mitigate the spread of resistance.

Recent Findings: Genetic mutations are key drivers of resistance for N.

Accuracy of GFAP and UCH-L1 in predicting brain abnormalities on CT scans after mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In recent years, blood biomarkers including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have shown a promising ability to detect head CT abnormalities following TBI. This review aims to combine the existing research on GFAP and UCH-L1 biomarkers and examine how well they can predict abnormal CT results after mild TBI.

Prevalence, incidence, and complications of malnutrition in severely injured patients.

Background: Severely injured patients may suffer from acute disease-related or injury-related malnutrition involving a marked inflammatory response. This study investigated the prevalence and incidence of malnutrition and its relation with complications in severely injured patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: This observational prospective cohort study included severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16), admitted to the ICU of five level-1 trauma centers in the Netherlands and United States.

Association between exposure to particulate matter and heart rate variability in vulnerable and susceptible individuals.

Particulate matter (PM) exposure can reduce heart rate variability (HRV), a cardiovascular health marker. This study examines PM (aerodynamic diameters <1 μm), PM (≥1 μm and <2.5 μm), and PM (≥2.