Balancing Activity and Stability through Compositional Engineering of Ternary PtNi-Au Alloy ORR Catalysts.

Achieving the optimal balance between cost-efficiency and stability of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is currently among the key research focuses aiming at reaching a broader implementation of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). To address this challenge, we combine two well-established strategies to enhance both activity and stability of platinum-based ORR catalysts. Specifically, we prepare ternary PtNi-Au alloys, where each alloying element plays a distinct role: Ni reduces costs and boosts ORR activity, while Au enhances stability.

Correction: Radical ligand transfer: mechanism and reactivity governed by three-component thermodynamics.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4SC01507J.].

Isolation of a Unique Monoterpene Diperoxy Dimer From Ziziphora clinopodioides subsp. bungeana Together With Triterpenes With Antidiabetic Properties.

Introduction: Ziziphora clinopodioides subsp. bungeana (Juz.) Rech.

Psychometric analysis of the three item loneliness scale in the Czech Republic.

Background: There is a growing importance of loneliness measurement through valid and reliable instruments. However, to establish valid and reliable measures, there is a need to explore their psychometric properties in different research settings and language environments. For this reason, this study aimed to validate the Three Item Loneliness Scale (TILS) in the Czech Republic within a Slavonic language environment.

Breaking boundaries: role of the brain barriers in metastatic process.

Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common intracranial tumors in adults and occur 3-10 times more frequently than primary brain tumors. Despite intensive multimodal therapies, including resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, BMs are associated with poor prognosis and remain challenging to treat. BMs predominantly originate from primary lung (20-56%), breast (5-20%), and melanoma (7-16%) tumors, although they can arise from other cancer types less frequently.

Evaluation of One Step Nucleic Acid Amplification for detection of lymph node metastases compared to histopathological ultrastaging in women with endometrial cancer: a protocol for a diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: This is a multicentre, European, prospective trial evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of One Step Nucleic Acid Amplification (OSNA) compared to sentinel lymph nodes histopathological ultrastaging in endometrial cancer patients.

Methods: Centres with expertise in sentinel lymph node mapping in endometrial cancer patients in Europe will be invited to participate in the study. Participating units will be trained on the correct usage of the OSNA RD-210 analyser and nucleic acid amplification reagent kit LYNOAMP CK19 E for rapid detection of metastatic nodal involvement, based on the cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA detection.

Neutron imaging and molecular simulation of systems from methane and p-xylene.

Bulk properties of two-phase systems comprising methane and liquid p-xylene were derived experimentally using neutron imaging and theoretically predicted using molecular dynamics (MD). The measured and predicted methane diffusivity in the liquid, Henry's law constant, apparent molar volume, and surface tension compared well within the experimentally studied conditions (273.15 to 303.

Quality of life in early breast cancer patients after adjuvant accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) in randomized trial.

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) represents a valid option for adjuvant therapy of selected early breast cancer (BC). This single-institution prospective randomized study compares the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between women treated with the highly conformal-external beam APBI technique and those with the more commonly used moderately hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (hypo-WBI). Eligible patients were women over 50 years with early BC (G1/2 DCIS ≤ 25 mm or G1/2 invasive non-lobular luminal-like HER2 negative carcinoma ≤ 20 mm) after breast-conserving surgery with negative margins.

Automatically optimized vectorcardiographic features are associated with recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

Electrical cardioversion presents one of the treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the early recurrence rate is high, reaching ~40% three months after the procedure. Features based on vectorcardiographic signals were explored to find association with early recurrence of AF.

The Diverse Roles of Long Non-Coding RNA HOTTIP in Breast and Gynecological Cancer Progression.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in the development and progression of various tumors through multiple mechanisms. Among these, HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) stands out as an intriguing candidate with diverse functions in several malignancies, including breast cancer and gynecologic cancers such as ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers, which are significant global health concerns. HOTTIP interacts with key signaling pathways associated with these cancers, including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and MEK/ERK pathways, enhancing their activation and downstream effects.

Benefit and Harms of Radical Nephroureterectomy as Part of a Multimodal Treatment Strategy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients Presenting with Clinical Evidence of Regional Lymph Node Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis by the European Association of Urology Guidelines.

Background And Objective: Given the uncertainty regarding the role of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) as part of a multimodal treatment strategy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients with cN+ disease, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the corresponding literature.

Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, we identified 17 observational comparative and noncomparative studies, published between January 2000 and September 2024, evaluating UTUC patients with cTanyN+M0 disease (P) who received RNU as part of a multimodal treatment strategy (I), as compared with any treatment strategy if applicable (C), to assess oncological or postoperative outcomes (O). Meta-analyses were further performed, as appropriate.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Coated with Glucosylated poly(2-oxazoline)s: A Supramolecular Toolbox Approach.

Multifunctional polymers are interesting substances for the formulation of drug molecules that cannot be administered in their pure form due to their pharmacokinetic profiles or side effects. Polymer-drug formulations can enhance pharmacological properties or create tissue specificity by encapsulating the drug into nanocontainers, or stabilizing nanoparticles for drug transport. We present the synthesis of multifunctional poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline--2-glyco-2-oxazoline)s containing two reactive end groups, and an additional hydrophobic anchor at one end of the molecule.

Split Membrane: A New Model to Accelerate All-Atom MD Simulation of Phospholipid Bilayers.

All-atom molecular dynamics simulations are powerful tools for studying cell membranes and their interactions with proteins and other molecules. However, these processes occur on time scales determined by the diffusion rate of phospholipids, which are challenging to achieve in all-atom models. Here, we present a new all-atom model that accelerates lipid diffusion by splitting phospholipid molecules into head and tail groups.

Status in Brain Gliomas Can Be Predicted by the Spherical Mean MRI Technique.

Background And Purpose: Diffuse gliomas, a heterogeneous group of primary brain tumors, have traditionally been stratified by histology, but recent insights into their molecular features, especially the mutation status, have fundamentally changed their classification and prognosis. Current diagnostic methods, still predominantly relying on invasive biopsy, necessitate the exploration of noninvasive imaging alternatives for glioma characterization.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study, we investigated the utility of the spherical mean technique (SMT) in predicting the status and histologic grade of adult-type diffuse gliomas.

Enhanced RNAi does not provide efficient innate antiviral immunity in mice.

In RNA interference (RNAi), long double-stranded RNA is cleaved by the Dicer endonuclease into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which guide degradation of complementary RNAs. While RNAi mediates antiviral innate immunity in plants and many invertebrates, vertebrates have adopted a sequence-independent response and their Dicer produces siRNAs inefficiently because it is adapted to process small hairpin microRNA precursors in the gene-regulating microRNA pathway. Mammalian endogenous RNAi is thus a rudimentary pathway of unclear significance.

Geochemical insights into plant uptake of Technology-critical elements: A case study on lettuce from European soils.

While vegetable uptake of traditional metal contaminants is a well-studied pathway to human exposure and risk, a paucity of information exists on the uptake of emerging metal contaminants. This study evaluated the uptake of the Technology-critical elements (TCEs) gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), thallium (Tl), and rare earth elements (REEs) into lettuce cultivated in 21 European urban soils. For comparison, the uptake of cadmium (Cd) was also analysed.

Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on Key Events of Hepatic Steatosis in HepG2 Cells.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) may contribute to the rising incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We investigated the potential of 10 environmentally relevant EDCs to affect key events of hepatic steatosis in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Increased lipid droplet formation, a key marker of steatosis, was induced by PFOA, bisphenol F, DDE, butylparaben, and DEHP, within the non-cytotoxic concentration range of 1 nM-25 μM.

Genome-wide analyses provide insights into genetic variation, phylo- and co-phylogenetic relationships, and biogeography of the entomopathogenic nematode genus Heterorhabditis.

Multigene, genus-wide phylogenetic studies have uncovered the limited taxonomic resolution power of commonly used gene markers, particularly of rRNA genes, to discriminate closely related species of the nematode genus Heterorhabditis. In addition, conflicting tree topologies are often obtained using the different gene markers, which limits our understanding of the phylo- and co-phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the entomopathogenic nematode genus Heterorhabditis. Here we carried out phylogenomic reconstructions using whole nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, and whole ribosomal operon sequences, as well as multiple phylogenetic reconstructions using various single nuclear and mitochondrial genes.

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in the Czech Republic.

Introduction: Lyme borreliosis (LB), an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), is the most common tick-borne disease in Europe. To further characterize the LB burden in the Czech Republic, we conducted a seroprevalence study and estimated the incidence of symptomatic Bbsl infections.

Methods: Anti-Bbsl IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in sera collected from the adult population in 2011 -2012 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot tests at the National Reference Laboratory.

Substituent-Driven Anion-Binding Selectivity in Aliphatic Chain-Substituted 1,2-Phenylene Urea Macrocycles and Optimized Synthetic Methodology.

1,2-Phenylene tetraurea macrocycles recently attracted attention as self-assembled channel-making compounds with high selectivity to chlorides. Here, we report on the introduction of aliphatic chains in the periphery of the 1,2-phenylene tetraurea macrocycle, which led to deterioration in the ability of the macrocycle to form channels and to a reversal of anion binding preferences in favour of dihydrogen phosphate. In addition, we have developed a new method of synthesis of 1,2-phenylene tetraurea macrocycle, using a direct click of two diamino ureido derivatives by triphosgene in the presence of chloride template.

A retrospective single-center pilot study of the genetic background of the transplanted kidney.

Introduction: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in kidney transplant recipients (KTR). The hereditary background of RCC in native kidneys has been determined, implicating its clinical importance.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective single-center pilot study aimed to identify a potential genetic predisposition to RCC of the transplanted kidney and outcome in KTR who underwent single kidney transplantation between January 2000 and December 2020 and manifested RCC of the transplanted kidney.

Characterization of Hemoglobin Variants by Capillary Electrophoresis, UV-Vis, and FTIR Spectroscopy.

Hemoglobinopathies, hereditary disorders affecting the structure or production of hemoglobin, were detected by routine HbA measurements by capillary electrophoresis (CE) at the University Hospital Motol, Prague. The potential of ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the detection and characterization of hemoglobinopathies was investigated. FTIR spectra were recorded with a very high resolution (0.

Registries in allergy: Structure, target groups, and key findings of allergy-focused registries in Germany.

In allergology, clinical registries fill knowledge gaps of epidemiology, mechanisms of allergic diseases, and real-world treatment outcomes. Considering the continuous rise of allergic diseases worldwide, registries become increasingly important for the optimization and harmonization of patient care. In the current review, we present four ongoing allergy-focused registries initiated in Germany.

Synthesizing and assessing influenza vaccine evidence: Strengths and limitations of the recent ECDC report on the effectiveness of new and enhanced influenza vaccines. Communication on: the "European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Systematic review update on the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of newer and enhanced seasonal influenza vaccines for the prevention of laboratory confirmed influenza in individuals aged 18 years and over. Stockholm: ECDC; 2024".

High quality research is critical for evidence-based decision making in public health and fundamental to maintain progress and trust in immunization programs in Europe. In 2024 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) conducted an update of the 2020 systematic review to capture more recent evidence on of the efficacy, effectiveness of influenza vaccines in individuals aged 18 years and older in the prevention of laboratory-confirmed influenza. While this report was highly anticipated due to the strength of the protocol and processes put in place, during our assessment, we expressed two chief concerns.