Cowpea mosaic virus intratumoral immunotherapy maintains stability and efficacy after long-term storage.

Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) has demonstrated superior immune stimulation and efficacy as an intratumoral immunotherapy, providing a strong argument for its clinical translation. One important consideration for any new drug candidate is the long-term stability of the drug and its formulation. Therefore, our lab has evaluated the physical stability and biological activity, that is, anti-tumor potency, of formulations of CPMV in buffer (with and without a sucrose preservative) in multiple temperature conditions ranging from ultralow freezers to a heated incubator over a period of 9 months.

'It Just Makes Sense to Me': A qualitative study exploring patient decision-making and experiences with prostate MRI during active surveillance for prostate cancer.

Introduction: Although prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used in the diagnosis, staging and active surveillance of prostate cancer, little is known about patient perspectives on MRI.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study consisting of in-depth, semi-structured interviews of patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer managed with active surveillance. Interviews focused on experiences with and knowledge of prostate MRI and MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy during active surveillance.

Grafting-from Synthesis of Plant-Polynorbornene Biohybrid Materials.

Plants, essential for food, oxygen, and economic stability, are under threat from human activities, biotic threats, and climate change, requiring rapid technological advancements for protection. Biohybrid systems, merging synthetic macromolecules with biological components, have provided improvement to biological systems in the past, namely, in the biomedical arena, motivating an opportunity to enhance plant well-being. Nevertheless, strategies for plant biohybrid systems remain limited.

Patient experiences with tissue-based genomic testing during active surveillance for prostate cancer.

Background: Tissue-based gene expression (genomic) tests provide estimates of prostate cancer aggressiveness and are increasingly used for patients considering or engaged in active surveillance. However, little is known about patient experiences with genomic testing and its role in their decision-making.

Methods: We performed a qualitative study consisting of in-depth, semi-structured interviews of patients with low- or favourable-intermediate-risk prostate cancer managed with active surveillance.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and spontaneous spinal hemorrhage: a systematic review.

The neurological manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, including spontaneous spinal hemorrhage (SSH), are diverse. SSH is a detrimental neurosurgical event requiring immediate medical attention. We aimed to investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 and SSH and delineate a rational clinical approach.

Dorsal intradural spinal arteriovenous fistula associated with giant intradural spinal aneurysm, a case report.

Arteriovenous fistula and spinal aneurysms like other vascular malformations can mimic radiculopathy and low back pain. Precise imaging work combined with a hybrid endovascular-microsurgical approach is the key element for the best clinical outcome.

Gut microbiota and COVID-19: A systematic review.

Background And Aims: Alteration in humans' gut microbiota was reported in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The gut and upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiota harbor a dynamic and complex population of microorganisms and have strong interaction with host immune system homeostasis. However, our knowledge about microbiota and its association with SARS-CoV-2 is still limited.

Influence of patient-specific factors when comparing multifidus fat infiltration between chronic low back pain patients and asymptomatic controls.

Introduction: Many studies have attempted to link multifidus (MF) fat infiltration with muscle quality and chronic low back pain (cLBP), but there is no consensus on these relationships.

Methods: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 39 cLBP patients and 18 asymptomatic controls were included. The MF muscle was manually segmented at each lumbar disc level and fat fraction (FF) measurements were taken from the corresponding advanced imaging water-fat images.

Inflammatory pseudotumor mimicking chronic pulmonary embolism or pulmonary artery sarcoma: Report of five cases.

Inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT), also known as plasma cell granuloma, is a rare lesion of unknown etiology that occurs in many organs, especially in the lung. Here we report five cases of IPT arising in pulmonary artery mimicking chronic thromboembolic disease, not previously documented in the literature. Those cases were identified at our institute among over 2500 pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) specimens acquired from 2000 to 2017.

Causal association of cognitive reserve on Alzheimer's disease with putative sex difference.

Introduction: Sex-dependent risk factors may underlie sex differences in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Using sex-stratified genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of AD, we evaluated associations of 12 traits with AD through polygenic risk scores (PRS) and Mendelian randomization (MR), and explored joint genetic architecture among significant traits by genomic structural equation modeling and network analysis.

Results: AD was associated with lower PRS for premorbid cognitive performance, intelligence, and educational attainment.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Nonhepatocellular Malignancies in Chronic Liver Disease.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy associated with chronic liver disease. Nonhepatocellular malignancies may also arise in the setting of chronic liver disease. The imaging diagnosis of non-HCC malignancies may be challenging.

Cell populations and muscle fiber morphology associated with acute and chronic muscle degeneration in lumbar spine pathology.

Many chronic musculoskeletal conditions are associated with loss of muscle volume and quality, resulting in functional decline. While atrophy has long been implicated as the mechanism of muscle loss in these conditions, recent evidence has emerged demonstrating a degenerative phenotype of muscle loss consisting of disrupted muscle fiber membranes, infiltration of cells into muscle fibers, and as previously describer, possible replacement of muscle fibers by adipose tissue. Here, we use human lumbar spine pathology as a model system to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the morphological features of this mode of muscle loss between early and late stages of disease, including an analysis of the cell populations found in paraspinal muscle biopsies from humans with acute vs chronic lumbar spine pathology.

Multiparametric MRI characterization of level dependent differences in lumbar muscle size, quality, and microstructure.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic tool that can be used to noninvasively assess lumbar muscle size and fatty infiltration, important biomarkers of muscle health. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI technique that is sensitive to muscle microstructural features such as fiber size (an important biomarker of muscle health), which is typically only assessed using invasive biopsy techniques. The goal of this study was to establish normative values of level-dependent lumbar muscle size, fat signal fraction, and restricted diffusion assessed by MRI in a highly active population.

Stimuli-Responsive Delivery of Growth Factors for Tissue Engineering.

Growth factors (GFs) play a crucial role in directing stem cell behavior and transmitting information between different cell populations for tissue regeneration. However, their utility as therapeutics is limited by their short half-life within the physiological microenvironment and significant side effects caused by off-target effects or improper dosage. "Smart" materials that can not only sustain therapeutic delivery over a treatment period but also facilitate on-demand release upon activation are attracting significant interest in the field of GF delivery for tissue engineering.

Intervertebral disc kinematics in active duty Marines with and without lumbar spine pathology.

Military members are required to carry heavy loads frequently during training and active duty combat. We investigated if operationally relevant axial loads affect lumbar disc kinematics in forty-one male active duty Marines with no previous clinically diagnosed pathology. Marines were imaged standing upright with and without load.