Novel Drug Delivery Particles Can Provide Dual Effects on Cancer "Theranostics" in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

Boron (B) neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a novel non-invasive targeted cancer therapy based on the nuclear capture reaction B (n, alpha) Li that enables the death of cancer cells without damaging neighboring normal cells. However, the development of clinically approved boron drugs remains challenging. We have previously reported on self-forming nanoparticles for drug delivery consisting of a biodegradable polymer, namely, "AB-type" Lactosome nanoparticles (AB-Lac particles)- highly loaded with hydrophobic B compounds, namely -Carborane (Carb) or 1,2-dihexyl--Carborane (diC6-Carb), and the latter (diC6-Carb) especially showed the "molecular glue" effect.

Surface Modifications and Antifungal Efficacy of Origanum Oil Incorporation in Denture-based Materials: An Study.

Aim: This study aimed to assess if the addition of origanum oil to denture materials could decrease microorganisms counts and biofilm formation without changing their mechanical/surface properties.

Materials And Methods: A total of 66 resilient denture liner discs (SoftConfort, Dencril Comércio de Plásticos Ltda, SP, Brazil) were prepared with fixed dimensions of 10 × 3 mm for biofilm assay ( = 36) and 12 × 2 mm for sorption-solubility tests ( = 30) containing three oil concentrations - 0, 2.5 and 5%, thereby = 12 per each group samples for biofilm assay and = 10 per each group for sorption-solubility test respectively.

Impact of C-Reactive Protein-to-Albumin Ratio on Lung Cancer With Interstitial Pneumonia.

Background: Lung cancer with interstitial pneumonia is known to be a refractory disease. We explored whether systemic inflammatory response markers are associated with outcomes in these patients.

Methods: The participants of this multicenter retrospective study, consisting of 17 medical institutions, were treatment-naïve patients with lung cancer combined with interstitial pneumonia who underwent surgical resection between 2012 and 2017.

Early Clinical Results for a New Self-Organizing Hybrid Fabric in Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

Background: We have developed a new hybrid warp-knit fabric for induction of in situ tissue regeneration that has shown appropriate antideterioration properties and expandability in preclinical studies. This study was performed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of this fabric in the early postoperative period after congenital cardiac surgery.

Methods: The fabric comprises biodegradable (complete degradation period, 2-3 years) and nonbiodegradable yarns coated with cross-linked gelatin.

Effectiveness of professional-identity-formation and clinical communication-skills programs on medical students' empathy in the COVID-19 context: comparison between pre-pandemic in-person classes and during-pandemic online classes.

Background: Enhancing students' empathy is critical in medical school education. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift from in-person to online classes. However, the effectiveness of online classes for enhancing medical students' empathy has not been investigated sufficiently and the evidence is limited.

Evaluating student understanding of pharmacodynamics core concepts.

Pharmacodynamics is an essential subdiscipline of pharmacology that underpins safe and effective prescribing and therapeutic decision-making, as well as drug discovery and development. The exponential increase in the number of therapeutic drugs has prompted members of the pharmacology educator community to question existing pharmacology curricula focused on individual drugs and move toward a curriculum focused on conceptual understanding. A first step towards conceptual understanding is to establish what students currently know about pharmacodynamic core concepts.

Hypotheses of pathophysiological mechanisms in epileptic encephalopathies: A review.

Introduction: Epileptic encephalopathy (EE) is a serious clinical issue that manifests as part of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), particularly in childhood epilepsy. In EE, neurocognitive functions and behavior are impaired by intense epileptiform electroencephalogram (EEG) activity. Hypotheses of pathophysiological mechanisms behind EE are reviewed to contribute to an effective solution for EE.

Exploring the link between sex hormone-binding globulin levels and prostate cancer risk: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) plays a critical role in regulating androgen bioavailability and has been hypothesized to influence prostate cancer risk, though existing evidence is inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between SHBG levels and prostate cancer risk.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for studies published up to December 1, 2024.

Ectopic Salivary Duct Cyst in the Median Mandible: A Case Report with Radiological, Immunohistochemical and Genetic Studies.

Median mandibular cyst is defined as an odontogenic cyst in a rare midline location. In spite of this definition, there have been two reports of a peculiar lesion, so-called "ciliated" median mandibular cyst associated with vital teeth, the origin of which cannot be explained in terms of odontogenic epithelium multipotentiality. We describe a thorough profile of an additional example.

Eyelid Spindle Cell Lipoma: Case Report and Review of Three Patients in Literature.

A 39-year-old woman presented a saucer-shaped mass in the left upper eyelid and underwent the extirpation at local anesthesia. Pathologically, collagen fibers, capillaries, small vessels, and CD34-positive spindle cells were dispersed among mature adipose tissues, indicative of spindle cell lipoma. Long-lasting cyst-like eyelid masses would be usually dermoid cysts, and spindle cell lipoma would be listed as a rare pathological diagnosis in differential diagnoses of cyst-like lesions in the upper and lower eyelid.

Short-process incudo-stapedioplasty in congenital ear malformation.

Objectives: Although various stapedotomy and stapedectomy techniques exist, anchoring the piston can be challenging. We present a novel surgical approach for treating congenital stapes malformations with an atypical facial nerve trajectory.

Methods: This is a case of a 7-year-old boy presenting with bilateral conductive hearing loss.

Nicotine dependence based on the tobacco dependence screener among heated tobacco products users in Japan, 2022-2023: The JASTIS study.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are nicotine-containing products similar to cigarettes and are widely used in Japan. However, there has been insufficient research on nicotine dependence associated with HTP use. This study investigated the association of the types of individuals who smoked with the prevalence of nicotine dependence.

Effectiveness of the educational training program for Japanese chief residents: A one-year pilot study.

Background: Multi-institutional faculty development programs for chief residents were lacking in Japan. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the program for enhancing the knowledge and behaviors of chief residents at the national level.

Methods: Six participants completed self-assessment questionnaires at three points: before, immediately after, and 6 months post-program.

C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4-directed PET signal in the arterial tree is not consistently linked to calcified plaque burden and cardiovascular risk.

To establish the extent, distribution and frequency of in-vivo vessel wall [Ga]Ga-PentixaFor uptake and to determine its relationship with calcified atherosclerotic plaque burden (CAP) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). 65 oncological patients undergoing [Ga]Ga-PentixaFor PET/CT were assessed. Radiotracer uptake (target-to-background ratio [TBR]) and CAP burden (including number of CAP sites, calcification circumference and thickness) in seven major vessel segments per patient were determined.

Spike frequency adaptation in primate lateral prefrontal cortex neurons results from interplay between intrinsic properties and circuit dynamics.

Cortical neurons in brain slices display intrinsic spike frequency adaptation (I-SFA) to constant current inputs, while extracellular recordings show extrinsic SFA (E-SFA) during sustained visual stimulation. Inferring how I-SFA contributes to E-SFA during behavior is challenging due to the isolated nature of slice recordings. To address this, we recorded macaque lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) neurons in vivo during a visually guided saccade task and in vitro in brain slices.

Understanding the Interaction of Röntgen Radiation Employed in Computed Tomography/Cone Beam Computed Tomography Investigations of the Oral Cavity by Means of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Analysis of Saliva.

The use of Raman spectroscopy, particularly surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), offers a powerful tool for analyzing biochemical changes in biofluids. This study aims to assess the modifications occurring in saliva collected from patients before and after exposure to cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. SERS analysis revealed significantly amplified spectra in post-imaging samples compared to pre-imaging samples, with pronounced intensification of thiocyanate and opiorphin bands, which, together with proteins, dominated the spectra.

Nanotheranostics in Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis: Advanced Research Progress and Future Perspectives.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide, with bone being the most common site of all metastatic breast cancer. Bone metastases are often associated with pain and skeletal-related events (SREs), indicating poor prognosis and poor quality of life. Most current therapies for breast cancer bone metastasis primarily serve palliative purposes, focusing on pain management, mitigating the risk of bone-related complications, and inhibiting tumor progression.

Association Between Change in Prognostic Nutritional Index During Neoadjuvant Therapy and Dental Occlusal Support in Patients with Esophageal Cancer Under Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Retrospective Longitudinal Pilot Study.

A high prognostic nutritional index (PNI) is associated with good prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. However, nutritional status often decreases during neoadjuvant therapy. Functional tooth units (FTUs) provide an index for the status of posterior occlusal support.

Prognostic Factors for Mortality in Patients Aged 90 Years and Older with Proximal Femoral Fractures Undergoing Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Proximal femoral fractures (PFFs) among individuals aged ≥90 years are becoming more common with an aging population and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. This study analyzed the prognostic factors influencing survival in nonagenarian patients undergoing surgery for PFFs. We enrolled 285 patients who underwent surgery between 2016 and 2022.

iPSC-Derived Biological Pacemaker-From Bench to Bedside.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived biological pacemakers have emerged as an alternative to traditional electronic pacemakers for managing cardiac arrhythmias. While effective, electronic pacemakers face challenges such as device failure, lead complications, and surgical risks, particularly in children. iPSC-derived pacemakers offer a promising solution by mimicking the sinoatrial node's natural pacemaking function, providing a more physiological approach to rhythm control.

RNA Sequencing and Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Highlight DNA Replication and Key Genes in Nucleolin-Depleted Hepatoblastoma Cells.

Background/objectives: Nucleolin is a major component of the nucleolus and is involved in various aspects of ribosome biogenesis. However, it is also implicated in non-nucleolar functions such as cell cycle regulation and proliferation, linking it to various pathologic processes. The aim of this study was to use differential gene expression analysis and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network analysis (WGCNA) to identify nucleolin-related regulatory pathways and possible key genes as novel therapeutic targets for cancer, viral infections and other diseases.

Inhibition of the polyol pathway by extract: plausible implications for diabetic retinopathy treatment.

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy is a significant microvascular disorder and the leading cause of vision impairment in working-age individuals. Hyperglycemia triggers retinal damage through mechanisms such as the polyol pathway and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Inhibiting key enzymes in this pathway, aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), alongside preventing AGE formation, may offer therapeutic strategies for diabetic retinopathy and other vascular complications.

Trends and projections of type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Asia: a three-decade analysis and forecast through 2031 using global burden of disease study (1990 - 2021).

Background: The rapid rise of non-communicable diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), poses a significant global public health challenge, with South Asia experiencing an increasingly severe burden. This study aimed to analyse historical trends of T2DM across South Asia from 1990 to 2021 and forecast incidence through 2031.

Research Design And Methods: We carried out analysis based on the data from the 2021 Global burden of disease study.

Development and validation of an algorithm for identifying patients undergoing dialysis from patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.

Background: Identifying patients on dialysis among those with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 mL/min/1.73 m remains challenging. To facilitate clinical research in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) using electronic health records, we aimed to develop algorithms to identify dialysis patients using laboratory data obtained in routine practice.

Undetermined Ruptured Low-Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasm Following High-Energy Blunt Abdominal Trauma Requiring Emergency Laparotomy.

Blunt abdominal trauma causing intraperitoneal injury and/or bleeding can be life-threatening, requiring immediate intervention. Diagnosing these cases can be challenging, especially when pre-existing conditions are involved. Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a rare tumor of the appendix that can lead to pseudomyxoma peritonei.