Distinct roles of small extracellular vesicles from resident and infiltrating macrophages on glioma growth and mobility.

Previous studies revealed that tumor-associated macrophages/microglia (TAMs) promoted glioma invasiveness during tumor progression and after radiotherapy. However, the communication of TAMs with tumor cells remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the role of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from TAMs in TAMs-mediated brain tumor invasion.

Biphasic cartilage repair implant versus microfracture in the treatment of focal chondral and osteochondral lesions of the knee: a prospective, multi-center, randomized clinical trial.

Background: Autologous minced cartilage is a method for cartilage defect repair, and our study focuses on a newly developed biphasic cylindrical osteochondral construct designed for use in human knees. We aimed to compare its clinical effectiveness and safety with microfracture, the commonly utilized reparative treatment for knee chondral or osteochondral defects.

Materials And Methods: Conducted as a prospective multicenter, randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial across nine hospitals, the study involved 92 patients with International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade 3 to 4 chondral or osteochondral lesions on femoral condyles.

Evolution of hepatitis B virus polymerase and surface genes in patients receiving finite antiviral therapy.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation could develop after withdrawal following a finite course of nucleoside analog (NA) therapy, leading to virological and clinical relapses. The genetic heterogeneity in the HBV surface and polymerase genes during finite NA therapy has not been carefully studied.

Methods: Seven chronic HBV-infected patients experiencing relapses following entecavir (ETV; n = 5; Patients 1 to 5) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF; n = 2; Patients 6 and 7) withdrawal were included.

Analysis of correlation between medial joint line change and lower limb coronal alignment after Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

Background: Lower limb coronal alignment was thought to be a predictive factor for Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty (UKA) result. The tibial bony resection and implant position lead to joint line change postoperatively. Analysis was done to find out the correlation between these factors.

Relations between Neurocognitive Function and Visual Acuity: A Cross-Sessional Study in a Cohort of Premature Children.

Background: Premature children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) have been reported to an have increased risk of visual and neurocognitive impairments, yet little is known about whether vision could affect specific neurocognition. This study aimed to clarify the correlations between neurocognition and vision in premature children.

Materials And Methods: This is a nonrandomized, cross-sectional, observational study in a pediatric cohort with five groups: (1) full-term (n = 25), (2) prematurity without ROP (n = 154), (3) prematurity with ROP but without treatment (n = 39), (4) prematurity with ROP and with bevacizumab (IVB) treatment (n = 62), and (5) prematurity with ROP and with laser/laser + IVB treatment (n = 20).

Clinical Outcomes and Histologic Findings of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Durable Partial Response or Durable Stable Disease After Receiving Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab.

Purpose: Durable partial response (PR) and durable stable disease (SD) are often seen in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo-bev). This study investigates the outcome of these patients and the histopathology of the residual tumors.

Patients And Methods: The IMbrave150 study's atezo-bev group was analyzed.

SLC11A1 predicts the overall survival of patients with colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, emphasizing the critical need for identifying biomarkers that can improve clinical management and patient outcomes. In this retrospective study, we analyzed tumor samples from 25 patients with metastatic CRC, categorized based on long-term (> 50 months) or short-term (< 10 months) survival. Employing the PanCancer Immune Profile Panel, encompassing 770 genes, in the discovery dataset, we identified 54 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) within the tumor microenvironment of metastatic CRC.

Power-Doppler-based NH002 microbubble sonoporation with chemotherapy relieves hypoxia and enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for pancreatic tumors.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) poses challenges due to late-stage diagnosis and limited treatment response, often attributed to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME). Sonoporation, combining ultrasound and microbubbles, holds promise for enhancing therapy. However, additional preclinical research utilizing commercially available ultrasound equipment for PDAC treatment while delving into the TME's intricacies is necessary.

Effectiveness of Blended Versus Traditional Refresher Training for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Prospective Observational Study.

Background: Generally, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills decline substantially over time. By combining web-based self-regulated learning with hands-on practice, blended training can be a time- and resource-efficient approach enabling individuals to acquire or refresh CPR skills at their convenience. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of blended CPR refresher training compared with that of the traditional method.

Longitudinal outcomes of trismus release with free-flap reconstruction in primary and secondary oral submucous fibrosis-related trismus.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis is a global health concern associated with betel quid use and results in trismus, which can be either primary or secondary in origin. Severe cases often require trismus release with free-flap reconstruction. This study examined longitudinal outcome trends following trismus release and compared the outcomes of patients with primary and secondary oral submucous fibrosis-related trismus.

Major adverse cardiovascular events in advanced-stage lung cancer: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: Lung cancers are common worldwide. First-line targeted therapy and chemotherapy are both standard treatments in the current guidelines. With the development of new anticancer therapy, the lifespan of patients with late-stage lung cancer has increased.

Religion and Spiritual Health in Patients With and Without Depression Receiving Hemodialysis: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study.

Background: Hemodialysis is the most common therapy for managing patients with end-stage renal disease. Depression is one of the most common psychological problems faced by dialysis patients, and there is limited research on the influences of religion and spirituality on dialysis patients.

Purpose: This study was designed to compare religion and spiritual health status between hemodialysis patients with and without depressive symptoms.

Targeting M-MDSCs enhances the therapeutic effect of BNCT in the 4-NQO-induced murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma model.

Purpose: Malignant head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by a poor prognosis and resistance to conventional radiotherapy. Infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) is prominent in HNSCC and is linked to immune suppression and tumor aggressiveness. This study aimed to investigate the impact of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) on the MDSCs in the tumor microenvironment and peripheral blood and to explore the potential for MDSCs depletion combined with BNCT to reactivate antitumor immunity.

The long-term effects of aggressive spasticity reducing treatment, including selective dorsal rhizotomy, on joint kinematic outcomes of persons with cerebral palsy.

Background: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) creates a large and permanent reduction of spasticity for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Previous SDR outcomes studies have generally lacked appropriate control groups, had limited sample sizes, or reported short-term follow-up, limiting evidence for improvement in long-term gait function.

Research Question: Does aggressive spasticity management for individuals with CP improve long-term gait kinematics (discrete joint kinematics) compared to a control group of individuals with CP with minimal spasticity management?

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis - focused on joint-level kinematics - of a previous study evaluating the long-term outcomes of SDR.

Predicting Inhaled Drug Dose Generated by Mesh Nebulizers.

The lung dose of nebulized drugs for spontaneous breathing is influenced by breathing patterns and nebulizer performance. This study aimed to develop a system for measuring breath patterns and a formula for estimating inhaled drugs, and then to validate the hypothesized prediction formula. An model was first used to determine correlations among the delivered dose, breath patterns, and doses deposited on the accessories and reservoirs testing with a breathing simulator to generate 12 adult breathing patterns ( = 5).

Parental hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccination for children and associated factors in Taiwan.

Background: Since July 2021, some countries and regions have initiated the vaccination of minors against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy will affect the vaccination of minors. We aimed to identify the level of parental hesitancy to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in Taiwan and the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, self-administered online questionnaire in Taiwan to assess parental hesitancy and the factors influencing their children's vaccination against COVID-19.

Unraveling the molecular mechanism of collagen flexibility during physiological warmup using molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning.

Physiological warmup plays an important role in reducing the injury risk in different sports. In response to the associated temperature increase, the muscle and tendon soften and become easily stretched. In this study, we focused on type I collagen, the main component of the Achilles tendon, to unveil the molecular mechanism of collagen flexibility upon slight heating and to develop a model to predict the strain of collagen sequences.

Prediction of Surgical Outcomes of Radial Polydactyly From the Wassel-Flatt Type and Symmetry of Duplication.

Background: The Wassel classification is commonly used for cases of radial polydactyly but has not been used to predict surgical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the predictive factors of surgical outcomes using the Wassel type and symmetry of duplication.

Methods: Forty-five patients with 47 radial polydactylies were reviewed using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand (JSSH) scores 4.

Effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on pediatric emergency department visits for acute gastroenteritis evaluated using a validated clinical severity score.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak that began in late 2019 has significantly affected quality of life and healthcare. Approaches to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have also affected the prevalence of other diseases. This retrospective review evaluated pediatric emergency department (PED) volume, in terms of children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE), and changes in AGE severity before versus during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan.