Enhanced Resistance to Pokkah Boeng Disease in Sugarcane Through Host-Induced Gene Silencing Targeting FsCYP51 in Fusarium sacchari.

Pokkah boeng disease (PBD), a common and highly destructive disease of sugarcane, is mainly caused by Fusarium sacchari. Breeding sugarcane resistant to PBD is challenging due to the limited availability of immune or highly resistant germplasm resources. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) based on RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising disease-control method that offers strong disease-targeting ability with low environmental impact.

Dual targeting PD-L1 and 4-1BB to overcome dendritic cell-mediated lenalidomide resistance in follicular lymphoma.

Immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide is effective in treating follicular lymphoma (FL). We conducted the first trial of immunotherapy rituximab plus lenalidomide in newly diagnosed FL in China (NCT03715309). One-hundred and fifteen patients were enrolled and treated with rituximab 375 mg/m intravenously on day 0 and lenalidomide 25 mg orally on day 1-10 for 6 cycles of induction treatment, as well as lenalidomide for 6 cycles and rituximab for 8 cycles of maintenance treatment.

Functional Radiosurgery in the Management of Cancer Pain: A Comprehensive Review.

Functional radiosurgery is a minimally invasive and highly precise approach to managing refractory cancer pain, offering targeted interventions for both nociceptive and neuropathic pain mechanisms. By focusing on key neuroanatomical targets, such as the thalamus, cingulate cortex, pituitary gland, celiac plexus, and dorsal root ganglia, functional radiosurgery provides effective relief for complex pain syndromes that are often unresponsive to conventional therapies. Advances in imaging and treatment delivery have enhanced the safety and efficacy of these techniques, allowing clinicians to tailor interventions to individual patients.

Development and Implementation of Digital Health Tools in Radiation Oncology: A Rapid Review.

A rapid review of 21 studies into 20 unique digital health tools found significant benefits to utilizing the following 4 categories of tools: (1) educational videos increased patient knowledge of radiotherapy (RT) and reduced treatment-related anxiety; (2) extended reality tools improved patient understanding of RT and reduced anxiety, with virtual reality coaching enhancing tumor motion reproducibility during CT simulation; (3) digital patient engagement tools helped patients manage treatment symptoms, increased health literacy, and improved quality of life; (4) an electronic feedback form decreased patient anxiety and increased RT knowledge. Most interventions were single-use and implemented before the start of RT.

Assessment and treatment considerations for patients with colorectal liver metastases: AHPBA consensus guideline and update for surgeons.

Background: Colorectal cancer most commonly metastasizes to the liver. While various treatment strategies have been developed, surgical management of these patients has vital implications on the prognosis and survival of this group of patients. There remains a need for a consensus guideline regarding the surgical evaluation and management of patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Image Guided Percutaneous Robotic Interventions for Solid Organs.

Robotic systems for minimally invasive procedures, particularly in interventional oncology, have advanced significantly, especially for percutaneous interventions guided by CT, Cone-beam CT, and MRI. These systems, which include needle-guiding and needle-driving robots, enhance the precision of procedures like biopsy and tumor ablation. Needle-guiding robots plan and align the needle, while needle-driving robots autonomously advance it, improving needle placement accuracy, enabling out-of-plane insertion, and reducing radiation exposure.

Determinants of Trunk Muscle Size Decrease in Patients with Type B Acute Aortic Dissection.

Trunk muscle decrease is reportedly associated with an increased risk of multiple adverse clinical outcomes. Acute aortic dissection (AAD) involves a systemic inflammatory response which is associated with exaggerated muscle protein catabolism. AAD requires prolonged hospitalization and potentially exacerbates muscle size decrease.

In-hospital Outcomes of Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients in Cardiogenic Shock Hospitalizations with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Analysis.

Background: There is a lack of data on the role of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients who received percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (pLVAD) as mechanical circulatory support (MCS) as an adjunct treatment for cardiogenic shock (CS) management.

Methods: Using National Inpatient Sample (2016-19), we extracted CS patients receiving pLVAD and divided them into CKD and non-CKD cohorts. Multivariate regression analysis was used for adjusted odds ratios for outcomes before and after entropy balancing (EB) and predictive margins for the probability of all-cause in-hospital mortality (ACM).

Accuracy, Effectiveness, and Safety of Robot-Assisted MRI-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Treatment of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: Robotic-assisted laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive method for ablating seizure foci and has gained prominence in epilepsy treatment. The use of robotic guidance in these procedures can minimize errors in probe placement, potentially leading to better clinical outcomes. In this meta-analysis, we assessed the accuracy, safety, and effectiveness of robot-assisted LITT for drug-resistant epilepsy.

Outcomes of Augmented versus Standard Baseplates in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Background: Glenoid bone loss presents a complex challenge in the management of patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) undergoing Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (RSA). Eccentric reaming and bone grafting have been utilized to address this issue but are associated with their own set of challenges. This study explores the effectiveness of augmented glenoid baseplate RSA in addressing glenoid bone loss.

Technology ownership, use, and perceptions of web-based program design features for older adults prescribed oral anticancer medication.

Introduction: Older adults are often prescribed oral anticancer agents (OAAs). Technology-based interventions may offer medication and symptom support. We aimed to evaluate technology ownership, use, and preferred design features of a supportive web-based program using a multimethod design utilizing surveys and semi-structured interviews.

Distribution and bioconcentration of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in soils and vascular plant Colobanthus quitensis from Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions.

Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are widely distributed across the globe, including polar regions. This study investigates the distribution and bioconcentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils and Colobanthus quitensis, while also estimating potential emission sources. Results indicated high concentrations of PAHs in soils and plants from the Sub-Antarctic region, while OCPs and PCBs were more prevalent in the Antarctic region, with higher contaminant concentrations found in soils than in plant tissues.

Stormwater ponds: Unaccounted environmental challenges of a widely-adopted best management practice in urban landscapes.

Stormwater ponds (SWPs) are an increasingly common management tool for flood control and water quality protection in urban areas. They are designed to buffer the impacts to downstream environments caused by altered hydrologic, chemical, biological, and ecological processes in developed watersheds. While small in size, they can have disproportionately large impacts on watersheds because they store, transform, and release inputs of carbon (C) and nutrients, mainly nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).

Microbial molecules, metabolites, and malignancy.

Research elucidating the role of the microbiome in carcinogenesis has grown exponentially over the past decade. Initially isolated to associative studies on colon cancer development, the field has expanded to encompass nearly every solid and liquid malignancy that may afflict the human body. Investigations are rapidly progressing from association to causation and one particular area of causal effect relates to microbial metabolites and how they influence cancer development, progression, and treatment response.

Biology-inspired dynamic microphysiological system approaches to revolutionize basic research, healthcare and animal welfare.

The regular workshops held by the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) on biology-inspired microphysiological systems (MPS) taking place every four years, have become a reliable measure to assess fundamental scientific, industrial and regulatory trends for translational science in the MPS-field from a bird's eye view. The 2023 workshop participants at that time concluded that the technology as used within academia has matured significantly, underlined by the broad use of MPS and the steadily increasing number of high quality research publications - yet, broad industry adoption of MPS has been slow, despite strong interest. Academic research using MPS primarily aims to accurately recapitulate human biology in MPS-based organ models in areas where traditional models have been lacking key elements of human physiology, thereby enabling breakthrough discoveries for life sciences.

Syngap1 promotes cognitive function through regulation of cortical sensorimotor dynamics.

Perception, a cognitive construct, emerges through sensorimotor integration (SMI). The genetic mechanisms that shape SMI required for perception are unknown. Here, we demonstrate in mice that expression of the autism/intellectual disability gene, Syngap1, in cortical excitatory neurons is required for the formation of somatomotor networks that promote SMI-mediated perception.

Age and Weight Stratified Outcomes of Single Stage Endorectal Pull-through Procedures for Hirschsprung's Disease in Children: Analysis of NSQIP-P Data.

Background: We aimed to analyze the effect of age and weight on 30-day outcomes of single-stage endorectal pull tthrough (ERPT) procedures for Hirschsprung's Disease (HD) using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) database to identify an optimal time for surgery.

Methods: We queried NSQIP-P for children <2 years with HD who underwent ERPT between 2016-2021 and did not have a preoperative stoma. Patients were stratified by age (<3 months, 3-6 months and >6 months) and weight (<4 kg, 4-8 kg, and >8 kg) at the time of surgery.

Novel bilayered zirconia systems using recycled 3Y-TZP for dental applications.

Objective: To synthesize bilayer zirconia systems based on commercial or recycled 3Y-TZP obtained from non-milled remnants and to compare their optical and mechanical properties before and after aging.

Methods: Bilayer zirconia samples were fabricated using either recycled 3Y-TZP (3Y-R/4Y and 3Y-R/5Y) or commercial powders (3Y/4Y and 3Y/5Y). Microstructure and phase composition were analyzed using ScanningElectronMicroscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).

Modeling time-varying spatial accessibility to healthcare: A system dynamic approach.

Spatial accessibility to healthcare is essential for policymakers to identify health disparities and develop targeted interventions. Current modeling approaches poorly capture temporal dynamics of contributing factors, and few have represented dynamic interactions among these factors. Further, validating current models is hindered by data limitations and methodological challenges.

Association between interhospital transfer status and outcomes following nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage.

Background: Patients with nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage often require immediate surgical intervention that may not be available at community hospitals and are therefore transferred to tertiary care centers. This study aims to evaluate the effects of interhospital transfer (IHT) on postoperative complications and outcomes following ntSDH.

Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for patients treated for ntSDH from January 2014 to January 2020.

Low-grade gliomas presenting with hemorrhage: Are intratumoral blood products associated with malignant transformation?

Objective: Gliomas are the most common primary tumor in the central nervous system (CNS), with low-grade gliomas (LGG) comprising more than 5 percent of all adult primary CNS tumors. While glioblastoma, the most malignant glioma subtype, is known to present with hemorrhage, LGGs rarely present with hemorrhage. This systematic review investigates LGGs that present as hemorrhage and provides an illustrative case presentation in order to evaluate trends and outcomes for this pathology.

Efficacy, safety, and patient-reported outcomes across young to older age groups of patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated with ribociclib plus endocrine therapy in the randomized MONALEESA-2, -3, and -7 trials.

Background: Ribociclib + endocrine therapy (ET) showed significant progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) benefits in the MONALEESA trials in patients with HR+ /HER2 - advanced breast cancer (ABC). We report efficacy, safety, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) across age groups, including older patients, in these trials.

Methods: Data from the MONALEESA-2, -3, and -7 trials for pre- and postmenopausal patients receiving first-line treatment for ABC were pooled and analyzed by age (<65y, 65-74y, and ≥75y).

Optimizing survey conditions for Burmese python detection and removal using community science data.

Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) have demonstrated prolific spread and low detectability within their invasive range in Florida, USA. Consequently, programs exist which incentivize contractors to remove pythons. While surveying, contractors collect data on search effort and python captures.

The Proimmunomodulatory and Anti-immunomodulatory Effects of Radiotherapy in Oncologic Care.

The abscopal effect in radiotherapy (RT) refers to the phenomenon where localized radiation treatment causes regression of distant, nonirradiated tumors. Although rare, recent research shows that combining radiation with immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, can enhance this effect. The interaction between radiation-induced cell death, immune responses, and the tumor microenvironment manifests in competing biologic mechanisms resulting in complex immunologic outcomes.