Tuberculosis and people who use drugs: why focus on this overlooked population is important and why adapted interventions are necessary.

People who use drugs show a higher incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis than people who do not use drugs in areas where Mycobacterium tuberculosis is endemic. However, this population is largely neglected in national tuberculosis programmes. Strategies for active case finding, screening, and linkage to care designed for the general population are not adapted to the needs of people who use drugs, who are stigmatised and difficult to reach.

Enhancing public health outcomes with AI-powered clinical surveillance: Precise detection of COVID-19 variants using qPCR and nanopore sequencing.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of integrating the Varia5 multiplex assay (qPCR) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for monitoring SARS-CoV-2, focusing on their overall performance in identifying various virus variants.

Methods: This study included 140 naso-pharyngeal swab samples from individuals with suspected COVID-19. We utilized our self-developed Varia5 multiplex assay, which targets five viral genes linked to COVID-19 mutations, in conjunction with comprehensive genomic analysis performed through whole genome sequencing (WGS) using the Oxford Nanopore system.

Isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism identification based on international classification of diseases (ICD)-10 codes and imaging reports.

Background: Isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism (issPE) is a commonly encountered diagnosis. Although the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes are used for research, their validity for identifying issPE is unknown. Moreover, issPE diagnosis is challenging, and the findings from radiology reports may conflict with those from expert radiologists.

The impact of lunate type on scapho-trapezio-trapezoid arthritis in trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis patients.

Background: Type II lunate has an extra facet with the hamate. This difference alters the biomechanics of the midcarpal joint, influencing the development of scapho-trapezio-trapezoid (STT) arthritis. We aimed to investigate whether, in patients with trapeziometacarpal (TMC) osteoarthritis (OA), involvement of the STT joint is associated with the lunate type.

Dimethyl Fumarate attenuates synovial inflammation, reduces nociception, and inhibits the development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

There is currently no cure or disease-modifying treatment for post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). This study aims to assess the efficacy of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a US-FDA approved drug for multiple sclerosis, as a treatment for PTOA. PTOA was induced in male Lewis rats by medial meniscal transection (MMT) surgery, and DMF was intra-articularly administered once, one week following surgery.

Diagnostic performance and clinical outcomes of computed tomography colonography in a sick inpatient population.

Purpose: Though prior studies have proven CTC's efficacy in outpatients, its utility in the inpatient setting has not been studied. We evaluated the efficacy of a modified CTC protocol in the inpatient setting, primarily for patients awaiting organ transplantation.

Methods: This retrospective study compared a group of inpatient CTCs from 2019 to 2021 and a randomly selected, age-matched 2:1 control group of outpatient CTCs.

Large-capacity DNA vectors based on rolling circle amplification with multivalent aptamers delivery copper sulfide for the synergistic treatment of Cancer through chemo/Photothermal/Chemodynamic therapy in vitro.

Developing multifunctional nanomedicines represents a frontier. We have engineered a high-capacity DNA vector basing rolling circle amplification for the delivery of copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) and doxorubicin (DOX), coupled with multivalent aptamers (MA) that precisely target tumors, culminating in a multifunctional nanoplatform (RMALCu@DOX), which combines the chemotherapy (CT)/photothermal therapy (PTT)/chemodynamic therapy (CDT). The vector (RMAL) boasts exceptional biocompatibility and incorporates multiple copy units, enabling the precise loading of numerous CuS NPs, forming RMALCu which possesses a robust photothermal effect and superior Fenton-like catalytic activity, heralding a project of minimally invasive dual-mode (PTT/CDT) therapy.

Effect of head size, head material, and radiation dose on the repeatability of CT-RSA measurements of femoral head penetration.

Background: The risk of early revision of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for polyethylene wear is now low, but there remains a need to perform wear measurements in patients for clinical surveillance. The gold standard of wear measurements has been radiostereometric analysis (RSA), which has limited availability. The use of computed tomography (CT) to perform THA wear measurement was described a decade ago and found to have acceptable accuracy and precision, but high radiation dose was a concern.

Association of malnutrition with surgical outcomes after spine surgery for spinal epidural abscess.

Background: Malnutrition is a predictor of poor surgical outcomes, but its specific effects in spinal epidural abscess (SEA) are understudied. This study aims to assess the association between nutritional status and post-operative outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2011-2022 American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to identify adult SEA patients who underwent spinal surgery.

Groundwater flowpath characteristics drive variability in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) loading across a stream-wetland system.

Groundwater-dependent ecosystems in areas with industrial land use are at risk of exposure to a PFAS chemicals. We investigated one such system with several known PFAS source areas, where high and low permeability sediments (glacial) coupled with groundwater-lake and groundwater/surface-water interactions created complex 'source to seep' dynamics. Using heat-tracing and chemical methods, numerous preferential groundwater discharge zones were identified and sampled across the upper Quashnet River stream-wetland system in Mashpee, MA, USA, downgradient of Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC).

Determinants for successful medullary fixation of the superior ramus.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine what demographic and anatomical variables affect successful placement of a superior medullary ramus screw, and how they affect the maximal diameter of that screw.

Methods: Design: Prognostic Level IV SETTING: Level I Trauma Center Patients/Participants: Two hundred consecutive patients underwent computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis. We included those patients aged 18 and older without osseous injury or abnormalities precluding measurement.

Effect of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V algorithm and deep learning image reconstruction algorithm on image quality and emphysema quantification in COPD patients under ultra-low-dose conditions.

Purpose: To explore the effect of different reconstruction algorithms (ASIR-V and DLIR) on image quality and emphysema quantification in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients under ultra-low-dose scanning conditions.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study with patient consent included 62 COPD patients. Patients were examined by pulmonary function test (PFT), standard-dose CT (SDCT) and ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT).

Safety and Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota, Live-jslm (REBYOTA®), for the Prevention of Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection in Participants With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in PUNCH CD3-OLS.

Background: Fecal microbiota, live-jslm (RBL; REBYOTA®), is the first single-dose, broad consortia, microbiota-based live biotherapeutic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to prevent recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) in adults following standard-of-care antimicrobials. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common risk factor for rCDI, yet patients with IBD are often excluded from prospective trials. This subgroup analysis of PUNCH CD3-OLS (NCT03931941) evaluated the safety and efficacy of RBL in participants with rCDI and IBD.

The predictive value of radiomics and deep learning for synchronous distant metastasis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: The objective of this research was to devise and authenticate a predictive model that employs CT radiomics and deep learning methodologies for the accurate prediction of synchronous distant metastasis (SDM) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Methods: A total of 143 ccRCC patients were included in the training cohort, and 62 ccRCC patients were included in the validation cohort. The CT images from all patients were normalized, and the tumor regions were manually segmented via ITK-SNAP software.

Clinical and imaging characteristics of 135 cases of infectious sacroiliitis: a retrospective cohort study in China.

To study the clinical, imaging, and computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy pathology of patients with infectious sacroiliitis (ISI). We retrospectively analysed 135 patients diagnosed with ISI between 2008 and 2020, comprehensively evaluating clinical characteristics, laboratory test outcomes, pathological examination results, and magnetic resonance images (MRI). Among the 135 patients with ISI, 90 (66.

Computed tomography-based nomogram for estimating progression-free survival probability in bladder cancer patients undergoing partial cystectomy.

Purpose: To establish a prognostic model to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) probability in bladder cancer (BCa) patients undergoing partial cystectomy.

Material And Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent partial cystectomy between August 2012 and April 2021 were enrolled. The primary endpoint was PFS during the follow-up.

Factors influencing diagnostic yield in ultrasound-guided omental biopsies: insights from a retrospective study.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, diagnostic accuracy, and factors influencing the diagnostic yield of ultrasound (US)-guided omental biopsies.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 109 patients who underwent US-guided omental biopsies between June 2020 and June 2024. Pre-biopsy diagnostic images (CT, MRI, or [18 F]FDG PET/CT) were reviewed.

Spectral CT radiomics features of the tumor and perigastric adipose tissue can predict lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Objectives: To develop a nomogram based on the radiomics features of tumour and perigastric adipose tissue adjacent to the tumor in dual-layer spectral detector computed tomography (DLCT) for lymph node metastasis (LNM) prediction in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 175 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. They were divided into training cohort (n = 125) and validation cohort (n = 50).

Which patients with negative PSMA-PET imaging can safely avoid biopsy for prostate cancer? a novel step towards PSMA-based biopsy-free strategy.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify if a subset of men can safely avoid or delay prostate biopsy based on negative results of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET).

Materials And Methods: Among 341 consecutive cases in a prospective biopsy cohort (NCT05073653), 111 treatment-naïve men with negative PSMA-PET (PRIMARY-score 1/2) were included. All participants underwent PSMA-PET and histopathological examinations.

Abdominopelvic imaging in the follow-up of testicular germ-cell tumors in adults: recommendations of the Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology.

Objectives: The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPIWG) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) aimed to formulate recommendations on the imaging modalities and minimal technical requirements for abdominopelvic imaging in the follow-up of adult patients treated for testicular germ-cell tumors (TGCT).

Methods: The SPIWG members performed an extensive literature search, reviewed the current clinical practice, and reached a consensus based on the opinions of experts in the field.

Results: Recurrence in patients treated for TGCT mainly occurs in retroperitoneal lymph nodes (LNs).

Effect of artificial intelligence-aided differentiation of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps at CT colonography on radiologists' therapy management.

Objectives: Adenomatous colorectal polyps require endoscopic resection, as opposed to non-adenomatous hyperplastic colorectal polyps. This study aims to evaluate the effect of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted differentiation of adenomatous and non-adenomatous colorectal polyps at CT colonography on radiologists' therapy management.

Materials And Methods: Five board-certified radiologists evaluated CT colonography images with colorectal polyps of all sizes and morphologies retrospectively and decided whether the depicted polyps required endoscopic resection.

3-Dimensional topographic enamel surface changes after different debonding techniques for aligner attachments: a micro-CT study.

Introduction: To evaluate topographic changes of enamel surface in 3-dimensional after different debonding methods of aligner attachments formed with 2 different composite resins.

Methods: Vertical rectangular attachments were created on 88 premolar teeth and divided into two composite resin groups (Group 1:flowable, Group 2:packable) (N = 44). These were then divided into two subgroups (N = 22) using different debonding methods.

2024 White Paper on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis: Three Way-Cross Validation; Urine Clinical Analysis; Automated Methods; Regulatory Queries on Plasma Protein Binding; Automated Biospecimen Management; ELN Migration; Ultra-Sensitivity Mass Spectrometry ( - Recommendations on Advanced Strategies for Mass Spectrometry Assays, Chromatography, Sample Preparation and BMV/Regulated Bioanalysis - Regulatory Agencies' Inputs on Regulated Bioanalysis/BMV).

The 18 Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (18 WRIB) took place in San Antonio, TX, USA on May 6-10, 2024. Over 1100 professionals representing pharma/biotech companies, CROs, and multiple regulatory agencies convened to actively discuss the most current topics of interest in bioanalysis. The 18 WRIB included 3 Main Workshops and 7 Specialized Workshops that together spanned 1 week to allow an exhaustive and thorough coverage of all major issues in bioanalysis of biomarkers, immunogenicity, gene therapy, cell therapy and vaccines.

2024 White Paper on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis: Evolution of Immunogenicity Assessment beyond ADA/NAb; Regulated Genomic/NGS Assays; Hypersensitivity Reactions; Minimum Noise Reduction; False Positive Range; Modernized Vaccine Approaches; NAb/TAb Correlation - Recommendations on Advanced Strategies for Molecular Assays and Immunogenicity of Gene Therapy, Cell Therapy, Vaccine; Biotherapeutics Immunogenicity Assessment & Clinical Relevance - Regulatory Agencies' Input on Immunogenicity/Technologies of Biotherapeutics, Gene, Cell & Vaccine Therapies).

The 18 Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (18 WRIB) took place in San Antonio, TX, USA on May 6-10, 2024. Over 1100 professionals representing pharma/biotech companies, CROs, and multiple regulatory agencies convened to actively discuss the most current topics of interest in bioanalysis. The 18 WRIB included 3 Main Workshops and 7 Specialized Workshops that together spanned 1 week to allow an exhaustive and thorough coverage of all major issues in bioanalysis of biomarkers, immunogenicity, gene therapy, cell therapy and vaccines.