Clinical Features of Primary Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.

Objectives: Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma (PPAS) is a rare disease with unclear clinical manifestations. Advances in imaging devices have improved diagnostic capabilities, potentially affecting clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS); however, details remain unclear. This study conducted a pooled analysis of case reports and series to analyse the clinical characteristics and OS of PPAS in the era of advanced medical devices.

CT-based Machine Learning Radiomics Modeling: Survival Prediction and Mechanism Exploration in Ovarian Cancer Patients.

Rationale And Objectives: To create a radiomics model based on computed tomography (CT) to predict overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. To combine Rad-score with genomic data to explore the association between gene expression and Rad-score.

Materials And Methods: Imaging and clinical data from 455 patients with ovarian cancer were retrospectively analyzed.

International Expert-Based Consensus Definition, Classification Criteria, and Minimum Data Elements for Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw: An Inter-Disciplinary Modified Delphi Study.

Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is a severe iatrogenic disease characterized by bone death after radiation therapy (RT) to the head and neck. With over 9 published definitions and at least 16 classification systems, the true incidence and severity of ORNJ are obscured by lack of a standard for disease definition and severity assessment, leading to inaccurate estimation of incidence, reporting ambiguity, and likely under-diagnosis worldwide. This study aimed to achieve consensus on an explicit definition and phenotype of ORNJ and related precursor states through data standardization to facilitate effective diagnosis, monitoring, and multidisciplinary management of ORNJ.

Optical Imaging Guidance in Oncologic Surgery and Interventional Oncology.

Over recent decades, optical imaging (OI) has become an integral part of medical imaging, offering significant advantages over other modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OI is distinguished by its real-time imaging capability, cost-effectiveness, portability, absence of ionizing radiation, and high patient acceptability. The introduction of advanced optical dyes (including FDA-approved agents like indocyanine green, Cytalux, and Gleolan) has greatly enhanced its clinical utility.

COVID-19 Pulmonary Phenotypes and Longitudinal Patterns in the First Wave of the Pandemic.

Background: The long-term evolution of COVID-19 in patients hospitalized during the pandemic's first wave remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify COVID-19 pulmonary phenotypes and their longitudinal patterns over a 12-month follow-up.

Methods: COVID-19 patients discharged from Pisa University Hospital (Italy) between March-September 2020, were evaluated at T3, T12, and T24 months post-discharge.

Seaweeds: Nature's super therapeutics? Immunomodulatory and anti-viral properties of sulfated rhamnoxyloglucuronan isolated from Ulva fasciata Delile.

Green seaweeds, which make up a major population of total seaweed worldwide, possess various therapeutic properties. The aim of the study directed at isolating a (1 → 4) linked sulfated rhamno xyloglucuronan, designated as UFP-2, from the edible green seaweed Ulva fasciata Delile, and to evaluate its efficacy in modulating immune responses and inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 (Delta variant) infection. Anti-inflammatory potential of UFP-2 was demonstrated through the regulation of key cytokines involved in inflammatory responses triggered by viral infections, including interferons (IFN-α/γ), interleukin (IL-1β/12/33), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α).

A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of BiPAP Pressure Settings on Airway Biomechanics Using a CT-Based Respiratory Tract Model.

Central and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (CSA and OSA), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS) disrupt breathing patterns, posing significant health risks and reducing the quality of life. Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) therapy offers adjustable inhalation and exhalation pressures, potentially enhancing treatment adaptability for the above diseases. This is the first-ever study that employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to examine the biomechanical impacts of BiPAP under four settings: Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure (IPAP)/Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) of 12/8, 16/6, and 18/8 cmHO, compared to a without-BiPAP scenario of zero-gauge pressure.

Targeting YAP/TAZ-TEAD signaling as a therapeutic approach in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Genetic alterations in Hippo pathway and the consequent activation of YAP/TAZ-TEAD are frequently observed in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. These include loss-of-function mutation and/or copy number loss of FAT1, and amplification of YAP1 and WWTR1 (encoding TAZ), thus raising the possibility that HNSCC cells may be dependent on YAP/TAZ-TEAD-mediated transcriptional programs. In this regard, the recent development of small molecule TEAD inhibitors (smTEADi) provides an opportunity to therapeutically target Hippo pathway dysregulation in human malignancies.

Rates of Return to Sexual Activity Are High In Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy And Occurs Within Six Weeks Postoperatively In Most Patients: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To provide an aggregate review of literature on 1) outcomes related to the quality of intercourse (frequency, postoperative pain during intercourse, postoperative sexual dysfunction) after hip arthroscopy and 2) patient-reported outcomes regarding postoperative sexual function after hip arthroscopy.

Methods: This systematic review followed The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), and Scopus were queried in March 2024.

Resensitization - Should repeat testing be performed in patients undergoing penicillin allergy evaluations? A Pro-Con Debate.

Evaluating penicillin allergy labels and expanding access to preferred treatment options safely is of critical public health importance. Most patients with penicillin allergy labels are not allergic, and even in those with verified allergy, sensitization wanes over time. However, sensitization is complex and while a patient may have a negative penicillin allergy evaluation (including a drug challenge), resensitization can occur, raising a risk of a subsequent reaction upon exposure.

Noise-matched total-likelihood-based bilateral filter: Experimental feasibility in a benchtop photon-counting CBCT system.

Purpose: Material decomposition induces substantial noise in basis images and their synthesized computed tomography (CT) images. A likelihood-based bilateral filter was previously developed as a neighborhood filter that effectively reduces noise. However, this method is sensitive to image contrast, and the noise texture needs improvement.

The role of F-FDG PET/CT in detecting synchronous regional and distant metastatic disease in patients with an in-breast tumour recurrence.

Background: In line with the trend towards minimally invasive, patient-tailored treatment, a selected group of patients with an in-breast tumour recurrence (IBTR) is treated by repeat breast-conserving treatment (BCT). To select eligible patients for repeat BCT, a reliable pre-operative work-up is essential. This study reports on the role of F-FDG PET/CT in detecting synchronous regional and distant metastases in patients with IBTR.

A deep learning approach versus expert clinician panel in the classification of posterior circulation infarction.

Background: Posterior circulation infarction (POCI) is common. Imaging techniques such as non-contrast-CT (NCCT) and diffusion-weighted-magnetic-resonance-imaging commonly fail to detect hyperacute POCI. Studies suggest expert inspection of Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) improves diagnosis of POCI.

Presentation, management and outcomes of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Approximately two percent of the world's population are affected by intracranial aneurysms (IAs). This study aimed to evaluate literature regarding presentation, treatment and outcomes of ruptured IAs in Africa.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature using PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Catalase-assembled nanoparticles for PA/CT dual-modality imaging and repair of acute alcoholic gastritis.

The development of simple, rapid, sensitive and noninvasive theranostic agents for acute gastritis is crucial. Herein, an engineering catalase-conjugated bismuth nanoparticle was fabricated for near-infrared photoacoustic imaging and computed tomography imaging of acute alcoholic gastritis. This nanoparticle could quickly respond to HO and H overexpressed in the microenvironment of acute gastritis in mice, emitting strong signals for precise localization.

homeRNA self-blood collection enables high-frequency temporal profiling of presymptomatic host immune kinetics to respiratory viral infection: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Early host immunity to acute respiratory infections (ARIs) is heterogenous, dynamic, and critical to an individual's infection outcome. Due to limitations in sampling frequency/timepoints, kinetics of early immune dynamics in natural human infections remain poorly understood. In this nationwide prospective cohort study, we leveraged a Tasso-SST based self-blood collection and stabilization tool (homeRNA) to profile detailed kinetics of the presymptomatic to convalescence host immunity to contemporaneous respiratory pathogens.

Accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound in diagnosing retained products of conception.

Introduction: Retained products of conception (RPOC) refers to residual intrauterine tissue in female patients after a recent birth, pregnancy termination, or miscarriage. Ultrasound is the primary diagnostic modality for RPOC, but the accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has not been evaluated for this diagnosis. Our aim was to determine the test characteristics of POCUS in detecting RPOC, and to evaluate the management of RPOC in the Emergency Department.

Assessment of Outcomes & Anatomical Changes in the Upper Urinary Tract following Flexible Ureteroscopy with a Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath (FANS): 3-Month Results from a Multicenter Study.

Objectives: To study the long-term outcomes of the flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS) in flexible ureteroscopy (FURS). FANS has well-established efficiency and 30-day perioperative safety; however, its influence on pelvicalyceal and ureteric anatomy remains to be investigated.

Methods: This was a prospective study of patients with normal renal anatomy who underwent FURS with FANS for renal stones from April 2023 to August 2024 in 16 centers worldwide.

Streamlining electrospun shellac coatings on paper for high moisture strength and barrier food packaging film: Tailoring the processing parameters for accelerated coating.

Coated paper with bio-based components has sparked attention as a food packaging alternative to plastic. This study focusses on development of environmentally friendly packaging solution by electrospraying shellac over paper's surface. The goal of the study is to reduce the time of fabrication, by optimising the process parameters, concentration; 20, 30, and 40%w/v, flow rate; 10, 20, and 30 ml/h, and coating time; 100, 200, and 300 s (Concentration (% w/v))/ Flow rate (ml/h)/ time (sec)), in order to get better GSM (grams per square meter), COBB (grams of water absorbed per square meter), KIT (oil resistance ability), and WVTR (water vapor transmission rate).

Mucus Plug Score predicts clinical and pulmonary function response to biologic therapy in patients with severe Asthma.

Background: Mucus plugging has been identified as an important feature of severe asthma contributing to airway obstruction and disease severity. Recently, improvement of mucus plugging has been found upon treatment with several biologic therapies.

Objective: We aimed to analyze associations of baseline characteristic with mucus plugging score (MPS) and asked whether MPS at baseline predicts the clinical and functional response to biologic treatment in patients with severe asthma.

A CT-based evaluation and comparison of ganglionated plexus targeting techniques for cardioneuroablation.

Background: Cardioneuroablation (CNA) targets ganglionated plexus (GP) to treat neurally-mediated syncope, yet a standardized GP identification method is lacking. Post-processing of cardiac computed tomography (CT) identifies epicardial fat thus allowing for fat pad identification. While CT-guided CNA's feasibility is documented, data about GP anatomy and comprehensive evaluations of GP targeting methods remain scarce.

Symptom Documentation in Unstructured Palliative Care Notes of Children and Adolescents with Cancer.

Context: Children and adolescents with cancer experiencing complex symptoms can benefit from subspeciality palliative care. However, standardized methods of symptom documentation by pediatric palliative care teams are lacking. Understanding current approaches to symptom documentation will inform next steps to optimize symptom support.

Neurotransmitter and metabolic effects of interferon-alpha in association with decreased striatal dopamine in a Non-Human primate model of Cytokine-Induced depression.

Inflammatory stimuli administered to humans and laboratory animals affect mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathways in association with impaired motivation and motor activity. Alterations in dopaminergic corticostriatal reward and motor circuits have also been observed in depressed patients with increased peripheral inflammatory markers. The effects of peripheral inflammation on dopaminergic pathways and associated neurobiologic mechanisms and consequences have been difficult to measure in patients.

Repeatability of critical thermal maximum (CT) in two freshwater ectotherms across contexts.

Critical thermal maximum (CT) is the most widely used method for quantifying acute upper thermal limits in ectotherms. CT protocol exposes animals to a consistent rate of environmental warming until they lose motor function. CT has been used to assess intraspecific variation among life stages, populations, or as a function of body size, often with the assumption that it is a durable and heritable trait at the individual level.