Additive-free 3D-printed nanostructured carboxymethyl cellulose aerogels.

3D printing of polysaccharide solutions is widely recognized as a highly promising method in the biomedical field for achieving complex customized shapes. One of the main challenges is in selecting conditions, in particular, the rheological properties of the system, to retain the printed shape. For the first time, the direct ink writing (DIW) is successfully applied to neat carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions without any additives or crosslinking, only by adjusting solutions' rheological properties.

Dual role of Xenopus Odf2 in multiciliated cell patterning and differentiation.

In developing tissues, the number, position, and differentiation of cells must be coordinately controlled to ensure the emergence of physiological function. The epidermis of the Xenopus embryo contains thousands of uniformly distributed multiciliated cells (MCCs), which grow hundreds of coordinately polarized cilia that beat vigorously to generate superficial water flow. Using this model, we uncovered a dual role for the conserved centriolar component Odf2, in MCC apical organization at the cell level, and in MCC spatial distribution at the tissue level.

Impact of circulating lymphocyte kinetics following radiotherapy on patient survival: A model-based meta-analysis.

Introduction: Radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) has been shown to adversely affect the prognosis of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). This model-based meta-analysis investigated the prognostic significance of lymphocyte counts both early and late after RT and examined the dose‒response relationship between post-RT lymphocyte levels and patient survival.

Methods: A literature search of published articles on the effect of RIL on cancer prognosis was conducted using the PubMed and Cochrane databases.

Unsupervised segmentation of heart sounds from abrupt changes detection.

Background And Objective: Heart auscultation enables early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Automated segmentation of cardiograms into fundamental heart states can guide physicians to analyze the patient's condition more effectively. In this work, we propose an unsupervised method of segmentation into heart sounds and silences based on the detection of abrupt changes in the signal.

Comparison of cadmium pathways in a high Cd accumulating cultivar versus a low Cd accumulating cultivar of Theobroma cacao L.

Understanding cadmium (Cd) pathways in cacao trees is critical for developing Cd mitigation strategies. This study investigates whether Cd uptake and translocation mechanisms differ between a low and a high Cd-accumulating cacao cultivar. We sampled three replicate trees of each cultivar, and a grafted cultivar that shared the same scion as the low Cd accumulator but had a different rootstock.

Structural and functional responses of soil fungal and bacterial communities to a lithium contamination gradient.

The use of lithium (Li) in decarbonization strategies has positioned it as a central component of modern technological advances, particularly in battery applications. However, the increasing demand for Li has raised concerns about its environmental consequences, which are poorly documented. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by examining the impact of Li on soil bacterial/fungal communities.

Development and characterization of farnesol complexed in β- and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and their antibacterial activity.

Farnesol (FAR) belongs to terpenes group and is a sesquiterpene alcohol and a hydrophobic compound, which can be extracted from natural sources or obtained by organic chemical or biological synthesis. Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology allow the drawbacks of low drug solubility, which can improve the drug therapeutic index. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare the FAR inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) through freeze-drying method, proposing their physicochemical characterization, comparing their toxicity, and evaluating their in vitro antibacterial activity.

Individualized total knee arthroplasty achieves better functional results than off-the-shelf implants in patients undergoing personalized coronal alignment.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the interest in patient-specific custom cutting guides in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but clinical improvement remains debated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional outcomes (Forgotten Joint Score, FJS) of patients undergoing individualized TKA compared with those receiving off-the-shelf (OTS) implants, both using patient-specific cutting guides with personalized alignment over a minimum follow up period of 12 months. We hypothesized that individualized TKA demonstrates significantly better functional outcomes than OTS TKA (FJS and percentage of patients reaching the minimum clinically important difference).

A branching model for intergenerational telomere length dynamics.

We build and study an individual based model of the telomere length's evolution in a population across multiple generations. This model is a continuous time typed branching process, where the type of an individual includes its gamete mean telomere length and its age. We study its Malthusian's behaviour and provide numerical simulations to understand the influence of biologically relevant parameters.

Epidemiology and Management of Actinic Keratosis in France: A General Population Survey (REAKT).

The objective of this retrospective observational study was to estimate the prevalence of actinic keratosis (AK) in individuals aged ≥ 40 years in France, to describe the characteristics of affected patients, and to describe treatments. A representative panel of 20,000 households with ≥ 1 member aged ≥ 40 years were invited to participate. Participants who reported AK lesions diagnosed by a physician were eligible.

Immunonutrition to improve the quality of life of upper gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment prior to surgery (NEOIMMUNE): double-blind randomized controlled multicenter clinical trial.

Background: Malnutrition is common with esophagogastric cancers and is associated with negative outcomes. We aimed to evaluate if immunonutrition during neoadjuvant treatment improves patient's health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and reduces postoperative morbidity and toxicities during neoadjuvant treatment.

Methods: A multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) was undertaken.

Exogenous dsRNA triggers sequence-specific RNAi and fungal stress responses to control Magnaporthe oryzae in Brachypodium distachyon.

In vertebrates and plants, dsRNA plays crucial roles as PAMP and as a mediator of RNAi. How higher fungi respond to dsRNA is not known. We demonstrate that Magnaporthe oryzae (Mo), a globally significant crop pathogen, internalizes dsRNA across a broad size range of 21 to about 3000 bp.

Investigation into the PSD characteristics of internally unstable soils susceptible to suffosion.

Internal instability of embankment soils under seepage can occur in two distinct ways: suffusion and suffosion. Suffusion involves the removal of fine particles from the matrix without causing significant disturbance to the soil skeleton, while suffosion is characterized by the movement of fine particles accompanied by skeleton collapse or deformation. In terms of dam safety, suffosion poses a greater threat than suffusion.

Mathematical model linking telomeres to senescence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals cell lineage versus population dynamics.

Telomere shortening ultimately causes replicative senescence. However, identifying the mechanisms driving replicative senescence in cell populations is challenging due to the heterogeneity of telomere lengths and the asynchrony of senescence onset. Here, we present a mathematical model of telomere shortening and replicative senescence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is quantitatively calibrated and validated using data of telomerase-deficient single cells.

LDPC-cat codes for low-overhead quantum computing in 2D.

The main obstacle to large scale quantum computing are the errors present in every physical qubit realization. Correcting these errors requires a large number of additional qubits. Two main avenues to reduce this overhead are (i) low-density parity check (LDPC) codes requiring very few additional qubits to correct errors (ii) cat qubits where bit-flip errors are exponentially suppressed by design.

Overlooked tripartite microbial interactions influencing chemical cycling in the ocean.

Inter-microbial interactions fundamentally govern ocean ecology and biogeochemistry. Recently, Henshaw and colleagues revealed that important inter-bacterial associations in the ocean can be shaped by viral infections, whereby infected cyanobacteria release specific chemicals that attract heterotrophic bacteria, uncovering a new tripartite microbial interaction that influences carbon transfer in the surface ocean.

Quantitative and Visual Benefits of Data-Driven Motion Correction on Oncologic PET/CT: A Prospective Cross-sectional Study.

Rationale And Objective: Conventional positron emission tomography (PET) respiratory gating utilizes a fraction of acquired PET counts (i.e., optimal gate [OG]), whereas elastic motion correction with deblurring (EMCD) utilizes all PET counts to reconstruct motion-corrected images without increasing image noise.

DIEP flap reconstruction for sacrectomy defects: Two case reports.

Introduction: Vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap is the most common option for large sacral defect reconstruction but is known to have donor-site abdominal morbidity compared to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps.

Report: Fifty-seven and 63 year-old men were admitted for large sacral soft tissue defects after tumour excisions. They both underwent an inferiorly based pedicled vertical DIEP flap passed transabdominally with successful postoperative outcomes and not any abdominal wall complication.

Platelet extracellular vesicles-loaded hydrogel bandages for personalized wound care.

Autologous or allogeneic platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) show potential in enhancing tissue recovery and healing chronic wounds. pEVs promote neovascularization and cell migration while reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and scarring. However, their efficacy in clinical settings is challenged by their susceptibility to washout by wound exudate.

Effects of isolation methods on physicochemical properties of defatted starch from the acorn (Quercus brantii).

This study explores the innovative combined effects of alkaline isolation with ultrasound pretreatment on the physicochemical properties of acorn (Quercus brantii) starch. The optimal pH for maximizing the yield of alkaline-isolated acorn starch (AAS) was determined, followed by comparison with alkaline-isolated defatted acorn starch (ADAS), ultrasound-pretreated acorn starch (UAS), and ultrasound-pretreated defatted acorn starch (UDAS). The results demonstrated substantial improvements in yield and purity, with the highest yield (68.

Unveiling an innovative sustainable blue resource-ecofriendly extraction technique towards a circular economy: Optimization of natural deep eutectic solvent and ultrasonication synergistic pathways for type-I collagen refined recovery from discarded fish scales.

A vast sum of fish waste is being annually discarded by marine fishing industries imposing serious environmental pollution concerns. However, these aquatic discarded matters are captivating sources of collagen, a fibrous protein with eminent social and economic relevance. Collagen is conventionally recovered using outdated complex processes requiring many reagents, multiple steps, and extended periods.

Correspondence. Reply to the article "Cornelis S, Mufty S, Peters S. Isolated distal radioulnar joint septic arthritis, the intact triangular fibrocartilaginous complex serving as an anatomical barrier. Hand Surg Rehabil, January 2025.

Cornelis et al. reported an isolated DRUJ infection treated with open surgery to prevent spread to the radiocarpal joint. We suggest that arthroscopy, proven effective in other joint infections and technically feasible for the DRUJ without damaging the TFCC,could have been a less invasive and effective alternative.

Case report: Study of a bulky melanoma mimicking sarcoma.

Introduction: Large melanomas, while relatively uncommon, present significant diagnostic challenges due to their size and potential to mimic other malignancies, leading to delays in appropriate treatment. Initial misdiagnosis is a substantial concern, impacting patient outcomes. This case highlights the importance of immunohistochemistry in cancer diagnosis, and of appropriate therapeutic management, which here included excision surgery of the tumor mass.

An unexpected guest: First report of Tintelnotia destructans as an agent of maxillary fungus ball.

Fungal rhinosinusal infections comprise several nosological entities, including sinus fungus ball. Diagnosis of sinus fungus ball relies on patient interrogation and clinical and paraclinical findings. Mold species commonly involved include Aspergillus, as well as dematiaceous fungi.