Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging responses in head and neck cancer patients treated with magnetic resonance-guided hypofractionated radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: Quantitative MRI (qMRI) has been explored for detecting tumor changes during radiation therapy (RT) in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Clinical trials show prolonged survival with PD-1 targeted immune checkpoint inhibition. Hypofractionated radiation regimens are being studied to counteract radioresistant clonogen formation.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Complete ACL Tears in the Skeletally Immature Population: A Prospective Multicenter PLUTO Study.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in pediatric and adolescent patients. Understanding this population's injury characteristics and treatment strategies is vital for managing this high-risk group.

Purpose: To report the descriptive epidemiology and treatment strategies of a large cohort of skeletally immature patients with complete ACL tears.

Design and synthesis of fluorinated polyimides with low thermal expansion and enhanced dielectric properties.

Modern microelectronics industries urgently require dielectric materials with low thermal expansion coefficients, low dielectric constants, and minimal dielectric loss. However, the design principles of materials with low dielectric constants and low thermal expansion are contradictory. In this study, a new diamine monomer containing a dibenzocyclooctadiene unit (DBCOD-NH) was designed and synthesized, which was subsequently polymerized with high fluorine content 4,4'-hexafluoroisopr-opylidene diphthalic anhydride and 4,4'-diamino-2,2'-bis(trifleoromethyl)biphenyl to obtain a series of fluorinated polyimides (PIs).

High-yielding total synthesis of embelin, rapanone, and irisoquin A, D, F.

Simple and sustainable three- and four-step sequences of di-OH-protection/mono-OMe-deprotection/OrgRC and di-OH-protection/mono-OMe-deprotection/OrgRC/OMe-deprotection protocols were developed to construct biologically active natural products of irisoquin, irisoquin A, irisoquin D, irisoquin F, sorgoleone-364, embelin, rapanone, 5--methylembelin, 5--methylrapanone and their analogues from the commercially available 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone, aliphatic aldehydes and Hantzsch ester (1,4-DHP) in very good to excellent yields by using organocatalytic reductive coupling (OrgRC) as key reaction. Many of these natural compounds exhibited a broad spectrum of biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, analgesic, anthelmintic, antitumor, antibacterial, and antifertility properties. At the same time, simple and readily available 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone was transformed into a functionally rich library of 2,5-dihydroxy-3,6-dialkyl-1,4-benzoquinones in very good yields by using sequential OrgRC followed by deprotection reactions and resulting natural/unnatural products would be excellent targets for investigation to show their biological activities compared to known natural products.

Two Recombinant Cytomegalovirus Antigens Formulated with the SPA14 Adjuvant System: Impact of Temperature, pH and Excipients on the Stability of each Antigen and Adjuvant Component.

By evaluating the stability profiles of each component of a vaccine candidate (antigens, adjuvants), formulation conditions to mitigate vaccine instability can be identified. In this work, two recombinant Cytomegalovirus (CMV) glycoprotein antigens (gB, Pentamer) were formulated with SPA14, a novel liposome-based adjuvant system containing a synthetic TLR4 agonist (E6020) and a saponin (QS21). Analytical characterization and accelerated stability studies were performed with the two CMV antigens, formulated with and without SPA14, under various conditions (temperature, pH, excipients).

Evolutionary Trajectories of Shoots vs. Roots: Plant Volatile Metabolomes Are Richer but Less Structurally Diverse Belowground in the Tropical Tree Genus .

The breadth and depth of plant leaf metabolomes have been implicated in key interactions with plant enemies aboveground. In particular, divergence in plant species chemical composition-amongst neighbors, relatives, or both-is often suggested as a means of escape from insect herbivore enemies. Plants also experience strong pressure from enemies such as belowground pathogens; however, little work has been carried out to examine the evolutionary trajectories of species' specialized chemistries in both roots and leaves.

From Biology to Clinical Practice: The Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Multiple Myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is a complex hematological malignancy characterized by the clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells within bone marrow (BM) [...

Differential Impact of Medical Therapies for Acromegaly on Glucose Metabolism.

Acromegaly is a rare endocrine disorder caused by excessive growth hormone (GH) production, due, in the vast majority of cases, to the presence of a GH-secreting pituitary tumour. The chronic elevation of GH and the resulting high circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) cause the characteristic tissue overgrowth and a number of associated comorbidities, including several metabolic changes, such as glucose intolerance and overt diabetes mellitus (DM). Elevated GH concentrations directly attenuate insulin signalling and stimulate lipolysis, decreasing glucose uptake in peripheral tissues, thus leading to the development of impaired glucose tolerance and DM.

A Prospective Study Investigating the Health Outcomes of Bitches Neutered Prepubertally or Post-Pubertally.

There are scant studies of associations between the pubertal status at neutering and subsequent health outcomes of female dogs. This study examined health data for Labrador and Golden Retriever crossbreed bitches neutered by ovariohysterectomy either before (PrePN, = 155) or after (PostPN, = 151) puberty using a prospective study design. Data were extracted from an electronic database containing detailed health records for all bitches.

Natural Bioactive Compounds Exerting Health-Promoting Effects by Ameliorating Oxidative Stress.

Oxidative stress is caused by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors [...

The role of disulfide bonds in L-arginine ameliorating the quality of low-salt sturgeon surimi gels induced by microwave: Increasing the diameter and fractal dimension of network.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of enhancing gelling properties of low-salt surimi by utilizing the complementary advantages of L-arginine (L-Arg) and microwave (MW) from the perspective of gels' network characteristics. At MW 3 min, the diameters of protein filaments were increased from 0.015 μm to 0.

Simple User-Friendly Reaction Format.

Utilizing the growing wealth of chemical reaction data can boost synthesis planning and increase success rates. Yet, the effectiveness of machine learning tools for retrosynthesis planning and forward reaction prediction relies on accessible, well-curated data presented in a structured format. Although some public and licensed reaction databases exist, they often lack essential information about reaction conditions.

A map of the rubisco biochemical landscape.

Rubisco is the primary CO-fixing enzyme of the biosphere, yet it has slow kinetics. The roles of evolution and chemical mechanism in constraining its biochemical function remain debated. Engineering efforts aimed at adjusting the biochemical parameters of rubisco have largely failed, although recent results indicate that the functional potential of rubisco has a wider scope than previously known.

Proximal protection devices for carotid artery stenting - A benchtop assessment of flow reversal performance.

Background And Purpose: Proximal protection devices, such as TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR, SilkRoad Medical, Sunnyvale), aim to yield better outcomes in carotid artery stenting (CAS) than distal protection devices by preventing plaque embolization to the brain. However, transfemoral catheters may not fully reverse flow from the external carotid artery (ECA) to the internal carotid artery (ICA). We assess a new balloon-sheath device, Femoral Flow Reversal Access for Carotid Artery Stenting (FFRACAS), for this purpose.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Medial Meniscus Ramp Lesions in the Setting of Pediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Medial meniscus ramp lesions (MMRLs) are commonly associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and may increase the risk of graft failure after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) if undiagnosed or left untreated. Although MMRLs have been extensively reported in adults, there are limited studies describing them in pediatric patients undergoing ACLR. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the pooled prevalence of and risk factors for MMRLs in pediatric patients with ACL injuries.

Robust circulating microRNA signature for the diagnosis and early detection of pancreatobiliary cancer.

Background: A new circulating biomarker superior to carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is needed for diagnosing pancreatobiliary cancer (PBca). The aim of this study was to identify serum microRNA (miRNA) signatures comprising reproducible and disease-related miRNAs.

Methods: This multicenter study involved patients with treatment-naïve PBca and healthy participants.

How I Do It: Management of Pleural-attached Pulmonary Nodules in Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. In various trials, the ability of low-dose CT screening to diagnose early lung cancers leads to high cure rates. It is widely accepted that the potential benefits of low-dose CT screening for lung cancer outweigh the harms.

Emerging approaches to enhance human brain organoid physiology.

Brain organoids are important 3D models for studying human brain development, disease, and evolution. To overcome some of the existing limitations that affect organoid quality, reproducibility, characteristics, and in vivo resemblance, current efforts are directed to improve their physiological relevance by exploring different, yet interconnected, routes. In this review, these approaches and their latest developments are discussed, including stem cell optimization, refining morphogen administration strategies, altering the extracellular matrix (ECM) niche, and manipulating tissue architecture to mimic in vivo brain morphogenesis.

Comparison of Piperacillin-tazobactam and Vancomycin (TZP-VAN) with Piperacillin-tazobactam and Teicoplanin (TZP-TEI) for the risk of Acute Kidney Injury (CONCOMITANT): A prospective observational, multinational, multi-centre cohort study.

Objectives: Both vancomycin (VAN) and teicoplanin (TEI) augment the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) when combined with piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP). We aimed to compare the risk of AKI among patients receiving TZP-VAN versus TZP-TEI.

Methods: This was a prospective, multinational, multicentre cohort study conducted in 12 centres from Turkiye, Italy and Spain between June 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

Substrate stiffness dictates unique doxorubicin-induced senescence-associated secretory phenotypes and transcriptomic signatures in human pulmonary fibroblasts.

Cells are subjected to dynamic mechanical environments which impart forces and induce cellular responses. In age-related conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, there is both an increase in tissue stiffness and an accumulation of senescent cells. While senescent cells produce a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), the impact of physical stimuli on both cellular senescence and the SASP is not well understood.

MPXV: Update on Morphological and Morphogenesis Aspects Through Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopies and 3D Reconstruction.

An unprecedented global outbreak caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, 2022. Therapeutics and vaccines for MPXV are not widely available, necessitating further studies, particularly in drug repurposing area. To this end, the standardization of in vitro infection systems is essential.

Enhancing Catalytic Removal of Autoexhaust Soot Particles via the Modulation of Interfacial Oxygen Vacancies in Cu/CeO Catalysts.

The purification efficiency of autoexhaust carbon strongly depends on the heterogeneous interface structure between active metal and oxide, which can modulate the local electronic structure of defect sites to promote the activation of reactant molecules. Herein, the high-dispersion CuO clusters supported on the well-defined CeO nanorods were prepared using the complex deposition slow method. The formation of heteroatomic Cu-O-Ce interfacial structural units as active sites can capture electrons to achieve activation of the NO and O molecules.

Short-Term Warm-Water Immersion for Improving Whole-Body Heat Loss in Older Men.

Purpose: Exercise-induced heat acclimation can mitigate age-related reductions in heat-loss capacity, though performing repeated bouts of strenuous exercise in the heat may be untenable for many older adults. While short-term passive heat acclimation (e.g.

Development and Clinical Validation of Model-Informed Precision Dosing for Everolimus in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Everolimus presents significant dosing challenges due to between- and within-patient pharmacokinetic variabilities. This study aimed to develop and validate a model-informed precision dosing strategy for everolimus in liver transplant recipients. The dosing strategy was initially developed using retrospective data, employing nonlinear mixed-effects modeling.

Difference in stiffness-related functional disability between decompression alone and decompression with short segments fusion (1 or 2 levels) in the lower lumbar region: a propensity scores matching study.

Background Context: Stiffness-related functional disability (SRFD) is a well-known complication after long-segment fusion surgery. However, SRFD following decompression with short-segment fusion (1 or 2 levels) compared with decompression alone surgery in the lower lumbar region, which accounts for a significant portion of lumbar range of motion, is poorly documented.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare SRFD after decompression alone (D-A) surgery and decompression with short-segment fusion (D+F) surgery in the lower lumbar region.