Weathering the Pain: Ambient Temperature's Role in Chronic Pain Syndromes.

Purpose Of Review: Chronic pain is highly prevalent and involves a complex interaction of sensory, emotional, and cognitive processes, significantly influenced by ambient temperature. Despite advances in pain management, many patients continue to experience inadequate pain relief. This review aims to consolidate and critically evaluate the current evidence on the impact of ambient temperature on chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia (FM), multiple sclerosis (MS), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and osteoarthritis (OA).

Nutritional and Functional Characterization of Chia Expeller and Gluten-Free Flours as Ingredients for Premixes.

The growing consumer demand for healthier foods that help reduce the risk of chronic diseases has driven the food industry to innovate with nutritionally and technologically viable products. This trend and the nutritional gaps in gluten-free diets have spurred the exploration of unconventional, high-quality ingredients like flour from pseudocereals, legumes, and oilseeds. This study evaluated the nutritional and functional profiles of chia expeller and flours from buckwheat, green/yellow peas, and rice to study their potential as techno-functional ingredients for new gluten-free premixes.

A Review of Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Predict Persistent Postoperative Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder and its Ethical Considerations.

Purpose Of Review: Artificial intelligence (AI) offers a new frontier for aiding in the management of both acute and chronic pain, which may potentially transform opioid prescribing practices and addiction prevention strategies. In this review paper, not only do we discuss some of the current literature around predicting various opioid-related outcomes, but we also briefly point out the next steps to improve trustworthiness of these AI models prior to real-time use in clinical workflow.

Recent Findings: Machine learning-based predictive models for identifying risk for persistent postoperative opioid use have been reported for spine surgery, knee arthroplasty, hip arthroplasty, arthroscopic joint surgery, outpatient surgery, and mixed surgical populations.

The Accuracy of Technetium-99 m Pyrophosphate Imaging in Diagnosing Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis and Its Impact on Patient Management.

Purpose Of Review: This review evaluates recent advancements in Technetium-99 m pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) imaging for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). We summarize the advantages of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) over planar imaging, the potential impact of quantitative methods, and emerging data for quantifying response to therapy.

Recent Findings: The current literature demonstrates the superior diagnostic accuracy of SPECT compared with planar imaging in 99mTc-PYP studies.

Modeling the Impact of Seasonality on Mosquito Population Dynamics: Insights for Vector Control Strategies.

Mosquitoes are important vectors for the transmission of some major infectious diseases of humans, i.e., malaria, dengue, West Nile Virus and Zika virus.

Sociodemographic inequities in overall survival among younger and older women with cervical cancer.

Purpose:  Older Black women and women living in areas of low socioeconomic status (SES) diagnosed with cervical cancer (CC) have worse overall survival (OS). The objective was to investigate associations between OS and race/ethnicity and sociodemographic factors in younger (21-64 years) and older women (≥ 65 years) diagnosed with CC using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data.

Methods:  This retrospective, population-based cohort study included 39,000 women ≥ 21 years diagnosed with CC diagnosed between 2006 and 2020.

Improving postsurgical paresis in brain tumor patients by transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Background And Objectives: Recently, reduction of transcallosal inhibition by contralateral navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (nrTMS) improved neurorehabilitation of glioma patients with new postoperative paresis. This multicentric study examines the effect of postoperative nrTMS in brain tumor patients to treat surgery-related upper extremity paresis.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of two randomized and three one-arm studies in brain tumor patients with new/progressive postoperative paresis.

Impact of preoperative frailty status on decision regret following elective hernia repair.

Purpose: Decision regret following hernia repair is common, particularly for patients who experience complications. Frailty is a risk factor for complications, but whether frailty is independently associated with regret remains unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative Core Optimization Hernia Registry, a representative sample of adult patients from > 70 hospitals across Michigan.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid Concentrations in Plants Organs Using Phenyl Isothiocyanate Derivatization.

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) is a direct precursor of phytohormone ethylene. We used a phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) derivatization modification method combined with spectrographic analysis to isolate and identify three products of the derivatization reactions of ACC and PITC. The MRM mode of UPLC-MS/MS was used to establish the analysis of 6-phenyl-5-thioxo-4,6-diazaspiro[2.

Length-Dependent Conduction of Polyynes: Searching for the Limit of the Tunneling Regime.

Rigid, conjugated molecules are excellent candidates as molecular wires since they can achieve full extension between electrodes while maintaining conjugation. Molecular design can be used to minimize the accessible pi surface and interactions between the bridging wire and the electrode. Polyynes are archetypal molecular wires that feature a rigid molecular framework with a cross-section of a single carbon atom.

Pembrolizumab ± paricalcitol in metastatic pancreatic cancer postmaximal cytoreduction.

Lessons Learned: Intravenous paricalcitol did not improve the efficacy of pembrolizumab, likely related to the short half-life.

Background: Immunotherapy has limited benefit in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer with the tumor microenvironment playing a key role in immune resistance. In preclinical studies, vitamin D receptor (VDR) agonists have been shown to sensitize pancreatic tumors to PD-1 blockade.

Pooled safety analysis and management of sotorasib-related adverse events in KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: We describe the safety of sotorasib monotherapy in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and discuss practical recommendations for managing key risks.

Methods: Incidence rates of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were pooled from 4 clinical trials: CodeBreaK 100 (NCT03600883), CodeBreaK 101 (NCT04185883), CodeBreaK 105 (NCT04380753), and CodeBreaK 200 (NCT04303780) and graded according to CTCAE v5.0.

Altermagnetism in two-dimensional CaRuO perovskite.

We propose and characterize a novel two-dimensional material, 2D-CRO, derived from bulk calcium-based ruthenates (CROs) of the Ruddlesden-Popper family, CaRuO ( = 1 and 2). Using density functional theory, we demonstrate that 2D-CRO maintains structural stability down to the monolayer limit, exhibiting a tight interplay between structural and electronic properties. Notably, 2D-CRO displays altermagnetic behavior, characterized by zero net magnetization and strong spin-dependent phenomena, stabilized through dimensionality reduction.

Tendon Inversion Improves Tendon-to-Bone Healing in a Rat Bicep Tenodesis Model.

Purpose: Tendon-to-bone repair remains a surgical challenge. Although bone tunnel fixation is a common surgical technique whereby soft tissue is expected to heal against a bone tunnel interface, contemporary methods have yet to recapitulate biomechanical similarity to the native enthesis. In this study, we aimed to understand how inside-out longitudinal tendon inversion affects bone tunnel healing with the hypothesis that inversion removes the gliding epitenon surface to facilitate interface healing.

Outcomes of chronic limb-threatening ischemia revascularization in patients with chronic kidney disease in the BEST-CLI trial.

Background: Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high risk of poor outcomes. We aimed to compare the outcomes of lower extremity revascularization in patients with CLTI stratified by CKD severity in patients enrolled in the prospective, randomized Best Endovascular vs Best Surgical Therapy in Patients with CLTI (BEST-CLI) trial.

Methods: The BEST-CLI trial dataset was queried to categorize patients into three groups according to CKD stage.

Elevated Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Prognosis in Acute Myocarditis.

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an easy-to-use inflammatory biomarker. Baseline NLR is independently associated with incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. However, whether this applies to acute myocarditis (AM) has not been evaluated.

Incidental Findings on Computed Tomography in Children With Blunt Abdominal Trauma.

Study Objective: Nontraumatic, incidental findings on computed tomography (CT) may be discovered after blunt abdominal trauma in children; however, the rate and importance of these findings are not well known. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of incidental CT findings among injured children undergoing abdominal/pelvic CT.

Methods: This was a planned secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study of children (<18 years) who underwent abdominal/pelvic CT after blunt trauma.

A Unique Case of 'in Situ' Bifluoride Triggered Formation of Supramolecular Organogels Using Isophthalamide Hydrogen Bond Donating Receptors.

A novel isopthalamide based receptor HL2 featuring two p-benzoic acid units has been synthesised and its anion binding properties analysed by H-NMR spectroscopy in DMSO-d/0.5 % HO. As expected, in the presence of tetrabutylammonium (TBA) fluoride the deprotonation of the carboxylic acid moieties was observed.

Prion protein modulation of virus-specific T cell differentiation and function during acute viral infection.

The differentiation and functionality of virus-specific T cells during acute viral infections are crucial for establishing long-term protective immunity. While numerous molecular regulators impacting T cell responses have been uncovered, the role of cellular prion proteins (PrPc) remains underexplored. Here, we investigated the impact of PrPc deficiency on the differentiation and function of virus-specific T cells using the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Armstrong acute infection model.

Crown ether functionalization boosts CO electroreduction to ethylene on copper-based MOFs.

The electroconversion of CO into ethylene (CH) offers a promising solution to environmental and energy challenges. Crown ether (CE) modification significantly enhances the CH selectivity of copper-based MOFs, improving CH faradaic efficiency (FE) in CuBTC, CuBDC, and CuBDC-NH by 3.1, 1.

First-in-Human Phase 1 study of a CD16A bispecific innate cell engager, AFM24, targeting EGFR-expressing solid tumors.

Purpose: Innate immune cell-based therapies have shown promising antitumor activity against solid and hematologic malignancies. AFM24, a bispecific innate cell engager, binds CD16A on natural killer (NK) cells/macrophages and EGFR on tumor cells, redirecting antitumor activity towards tumors. The safety and tolerability of AFM24 was evaluated in this Phase 1/2a dose escalation/dose expansion study in patients with recurrent or persistent, advanced solid tumors known to express EGFR.

Intratumoral or Subcutaneous MK-2118, a Non-Cyclic Dinucleotide STING Agonist, With or Without Pembrolizumab for Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors or Lymphomas.

Background: We evaluated the non-cyclic dinucleotide stimulator of interferon genes agonist MK-2118 ± pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphomas.

Methods: This first-in-human study (NCT03249792) enrolled patients with refractory, advanced solid tumors or lymphomas. Patients received intratumoral (IT) MK-2118 100-20,000 µg (arm 1), IT MK-2118 900-15,000 µg plus intravenous (IV) pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W; arm 2), or subcutaneous (SC) MK-2118 5000-150,000 µg plus IV pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W (arm 4); arm 3 (visceral injection of MK-2118) was not pursued.

A proteogenomic analysis of the adiposity colorectal cancer relationship identifies GREM1 as a probable mediator.

Background: Adiposity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). The pathways underlying this relationship, and specifically the role of circulating proteins, are unclear.

Methods: Utilizing two-sample univariable Mendelian randomization (UVMR), multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR), and colocalization, based on summary data from large sex-combined and sex-specific genetic studies, we estimated the univariable associations between: (i) body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) and overall and site-specific (colon, proximal colon, distal colon, and rectal) CRC risk, (ii) BMI and WHR and circulating proteins, and (iii) adiposity-associated circulating proteins and CRC risk.

Innovative Application of Electrokinetic Treatment on Montmorillonite Modification: Effects on pH, Current, and Swelling Properties of Ca-Montmorillonite.

This study evaluates the feasibility of converting Ca-montmorillonite into Na-montmorillonite through electroosmosis. Comprehensive analyses of current, pH, ζ-potential, and ethylene glycol expansion were conducted to investigate the macro- and microscale effects of electroosmosis. The results demonstrate that electroosmosis effectively reduces the swelling properties of montmorillonite.