Development of a prognostic nomogram and risk stratification system for elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing definitive radiotherapy: a multicenter retrospective analysis (3JECROG R-03 A).

Background: Our goal is to develop a nomogram model to predict overall survival (OS) for elderly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving definitive radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT), aiding clinicians in personalized treatment planning with a risk stratification system.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 718 elderly ESCC patients treated with RT or CRT at 10 medical centers (3JECROG) from January 2004 to November 2016. We identified independent prognostic factors using univariate and multifactorial Cox regression to construct a nomogram model.

The gut-brain axis underlying hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis.

Up to 50-70% of patients with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is closely related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, with an unclear mechanism. Here, by constructing gut-brain modules to assess bacterial neurotoxins from metagenomic datasets, we found that phenylalanine decarboxylase (PDC) genes, mainly from Ruminococcus gnavus, increased approximately tenfold in patients with cirrhosis and higher in patients with HE. Cirrhotic, not healthy, mice colonized with R.

One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.

Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse and important for livelihoods and economic development, but are under substantial stress. To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters. Consequently, data from predominantly terrestrial tetrapods are used to guide environmental policy and conservation prioritization, whereas recent proposals for target setting in freshwaters use abiotic factors.

Prognostic significance of albumin corrected anion gap in patients with acute pancreatitis: a novel perspective.

This study aims to explore the relationship between the albumin-corrected anion gap (ACAG) and short- and long-term all-cause mortality (ACM) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) managed in the intensive care unit (ICU). We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing data extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. This study sought to investigate the correlation between ACAG and ACM among patients diagnosed with AP across various disease stages.

Comparing Patient-Specific Variations in Intra-Cochlear Neural Health Estimated Using Psychophysical Thresholds and Panoramic Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potentials (PECAPs).

Purpose: Variations in neural survival along the cochlear implant electrode array leads to off-place listening, resulting in poorer speech understanding outcomes for recipients. Therefore, it is important to develop and compare clinically viable tests to identify these patient-specific intra-cochlear neural differences.

Methods: Nineteen experienced cochlear implant recipients (9 males and 10 females) were recruited for this study.

Pre-distance assessment from radial artery to lower extremity arterial lesion.

Endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with lower extremity artery disease is widely used as a less invasive alternative to surgical bypass. Recently, transradial artery intervention has gained popularity owing to its minimally invasive nature. The distance from the radial artery to the target vessel is critical for success; however, effective pre-assessment methods have not yet been established.

Repeatability of AI-based, automatic measurement of vertebral and cardiovascular imaging biomarkers in low-dose chest CT: the ImaLife cohort.

Objective: To evaluate the repeatability of AI-based automatic measurement of vertebral and cardiovascular markers on low-dose chest CT.

Methods: We included participants of the population-based Imaging in Lifelines (ImaLife) study with low-dose chest CT at baseline and 3-4 month follow-up. An AI system (AI-Rad Companion chest CT prototype) performed automatic segmentation and quantification of vertebral height and density, aortic diameters, heart volume (cardiac chambers plus pericardial fat), and coronary artery calcium volume (CACV).

Immunoregulatory programs in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis identified by single-cell multi-omics analysis.

Background: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDARE) is a prevalent type of autoimmune encephalitis caused by antibodies targeting the NMDAR's GluN1 subunit. While significant progress has been made in elucidating the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, the immunological mechanisms underlying anti-NMDARE remain elusive. This study aimed to characterize immune cell interactions and dysregulation in anti-NMDARE by leveraging single-cell multi-omics sequencing technologies.

Dry eye disease and morphological changes in the anterior chamber in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by variants in a gene that encodes a protein essential for water and ion transport in the epithelial cells of exocrine organs. Given the possible relationship of this protein and conjunctival and corneal epithelium, the aim of this study was to evaluate ophthalmologic alterations in people with CF.

Methods: Forty-five people with CF underwent pulmonary evaluation including inflammatory score (IS).

Anti-Dyslipidemic Potential of Sulfated Glycosaminoglycan from Rock Oyster Saccostrea cucullata: An in vivo study.

The rock oyster, Saccostrea cucullata, native to the Indo-Pacific region, is renowned for its nutritional and therapeutic benefits. A sulfated glycosaminoglycan (SCP-2) with β-(1→3)-GlcNSp and α-(1→4)-GlcAp as recurring units isolated from S. cucullata.

A Comparison of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Materials.

Background: New catheter materials for peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) may reduce the risk of device failure due to infectious, thrombotic, and catheter occlusion events. However, data from randomized trials comparing these catheters are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled, superiority trial in three Australian tertiary hospitals.

Ultrafast, Robust, and Reversible Self-Assembled Nanofibers via Thiolactone Chemistry Strategy.

Self-assembly in supramolecular chemistry is crucial for nanostructure creation but faces challenges like slow speeds and lack of reversibility. In this study, a novel comb-like polymer poly(amide sulfide) (PAS) based on thiolactone chemistry is reported, which rapidly self-assemble into stable nanofibers, offering excellent robustness and reversibility in the self-assembled structure. The PAS backbone contains pairs of amide bonds, each linked to an alkyl side chain in a controlled 2:1 ratio.

Metal-Protein Hybrid Materials: Unlocking New Frontiers in Biomedical Applications.

Metal-protein hybrid materials represent a novel class of functional materials that exhibit exceptional physicochemical properties and tunable structures, rendering them remarkable applications in diverse fields, including materials engineering, biocatalysis, biosensing, and biomedicine. The design and development of multifunctional and biocompatible metal-protein hybrid materials have been the subject of extensive research and a key aspiration for practical applications in clinical settings. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the design strategies, intrinsic properties, and biomedical applications of these hybrid materials, with a specific emphasis on their potential in cancer therapy, drug and vaccine delivery, antibacterial treatments, and tissue regeneration.

Biomimetic Cerium-Assisted Supra-Carbon Dots Assembly for Reactive Oxygen Species-Activated Atherosclerosis Theranostic.

Theranostic applications in atherosclerosis plaque microenvironment-triggered nanoplatforms are significantly compromised by the complex synthesis procedure, non-specific distribution, and limited therapeutic function. Therefore, development of a facile and feasible method to construct a pathology-based stimuli-responsive nanoplatform with satisfactory theranostic performance remains a demanding and highly anticipated goal. Herein, a novel class of multifunctional supra-carbon dots (CDs), denoted as MM@Ce-CDs NPs, by a simple nanoassembly and a subsequent coating with macrophage membrane (MM), is developed for the targeted reactive oxygen species-trigged theranostic and positive regulation of the pathological plaque microenvironment in AS.

Priorities for research on improving health behaviours for optimal mental health of Australian university students: A twin-panel Delphi study.

Issue Addressed: University students are at risk of poor health behaviours which negatively affect mental health and wellbeing. Informing the implementation of appropriate strategies to support Australian university students' health and wellbeing, requires quality evidence. This study aimed to identify research priorities for improving health behaviours to optimise mental health of Australian university students.

The Effects of Resonance Frequency Breathing on Cardiovascular System and Brain-Cardiopulmonary Interactions.

Resonance frequency (RF) is characterized as the specific frequency at which a system, equipped with delayed self-correction or negative feedback mechanisms, exhibits maximal amplitude oscillations in response to an external stimulus of a particular frequency. Emerging evidence suggests that the cardiovascular system has an inherent RF, and that breathing at this frequency can markedly enhance health and cardiovascular function. However, the efficacy of resonance frequency breathing (RFB) and the specific responses of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and central nervous systems during RFB remain unclear.

Transcriptionally downregulated GABAergic genes associated with synaptic density network dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Purpose: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a brain network disorder closely associated with synaptic loss and has a genetic basis. However, the in vivo whole-brain synaptic changes at the network-level and the underlying gene expression patterns in patients with TLE remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we utilized a positron emission tomography with the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 A radioligand [F]SynVesT-1 cohort and two independent transcriptome datasets to investigate the topological properties of the synaptic density similarity network (SDSN) in TLE and its correlation with significantly dysregulated risk genes.

Identification of amino acid metabolism‑related genes as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in sepsis through machine learning.

Previous research has highlighted the critical role of amino acid metabolism (AAM) in the pathophysiology of sepsis. The present study aimed to explore the potential diagnostic and prognostic value of AAM-related genes (AAMGs) in sepsis, as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms. Gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE65682, GSE185263 and GSE154918 datasets) were analyzed.

Absolute standard hydrogen electrode potential and redox potentials of atoms and molecules: machine learning aided first principles calculations.

Constructing a self-consistent first-principles framework that accurately predicts the properties of electron transfer reactions through finite-temperature molecular dynamics simulations is a dream of theoretical electrochemists and physical chemists. Yet, predicting even the absolute standard hydrogen electrode potential, the most fundamental reference for electrode potentials, proves to be extremely challenging. Here, we show that a hybrid functional incorporating 25% exact exchange enables quantitative predictions when statistically accurate phase-space sampling is achieved thermodynamic integrations and thermodynamic perturbation theory calculations, utilizing machine-learned force fields and Δ-machine learning models.

Recent advances in the role of atypical cadherin FAT1 in tumorigenesis (Review).

The FAT atypical cadherin 1 (FAT1) gene is the ortholog of the fat gene and encodes the protocadherin FAT1. FAT1 belongs to the cadherin superfamily, a group of full-length membrane proteins that contain cadherin-like repeats. In various types of human cancer, FAT1 is one of the most commonly mutated genes, and is considered to be an emerging cancer biomarker and a potential target for novel therapies.

Exploring the efficacy of (R)-PFI-2 hydrochloride in mitigating noise-induced hearing loss by targeting NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway to reduce inner ear inflammation.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is primarily driven by inflammatory processes within the cochlea, where noise exposure triggers the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, leading to an inflammatory cascade. The interaction between increased NLRP3 expression and NF-κB activity can further amplify cochlear inflammation. Our findings reveal that (R)-PFI-2 hydrochloride, a selective inhibitor of the SETD7 enzyme, effectively inhibits the activation of the cochlear NF-κB pathway, suppresses the release of pro-inflammatory factors, and prevents inflammasome assembly.

Role of the tumor board when prescribing mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibitors to patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant glioma.

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutant gliomas, comprising both astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, represent a distinct group of tumors that pose an interdisciplinary challenge. Addressing the needs of affected patients requires close collaboration among various disciplines, including neuropathology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, neurology, medical oncology, and other relevant specialties when necessary. Interdisciplinary tumor boards are central in determining the ideal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for these patients.

Ferroelectric Optical Memristors Enabled by Non-Volatile Electro-Optic Effect.

Memristors enable non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing. Optical memristors are the fundamental element for programmable photonic integrated circuits due to their high-bandwidth computing, low crosstalk, and minimal power consumption. Here, an optical memristor enabled by a non-volatile electro-optic (EO) effect, where refractive index modulation under zero field is realized by deliberate control of domain alignment in the ferroelectric material Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO(PMN-PT) is proposed.

Differences in phenological term changes in field crops and wild plants - do they have the same response to climate change in Central Europe?

Phenological shifts in wild-growing plants and wild animal phenophases are well documented at many European sites. Less is known about phenological shifts in agricultural plants and how wild ecosystem phenology interacts with crop phenology. Here, we present long-term phenological observations (1961-2021) from the Czech Republic for wild plants and agricultural crops and how the timing of phenophases differs from each other.

Effects of an initial anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy on subsequent anti-CD22 CAR T-cell manufacturing and clinical outcomes in patients with r/r LBCL.

Patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) progressing after anti-CD19 CAR T-cell (CAR19) therapy have poor outcomes. Subsequent CAR T-cell therapy shows promise, but the impact of residual CAR19 and early relapse remains unclear. We evaluated 37 CAR19-refractory LBCL patients who received anti-CD22 CAR T-cell (CAR22) in a phase 1b trial (NCT04088890).