Contribution of rat insular cortex to stimulus-guided action.

Anticipating rewards is fundamental for decision-making. Animals often use cues to assess reward availability and to make predictions about future outcomes. The gustatory region of the insular cortex (IC), the so-called gustatory cortex, has a well-established role in the representation of predictive cues, such that IC neurons encode both a general form of outcome expectation as well as anticipatory outcome-specific knowledge.

New Artisse intrasaccular device for intracranial aneurysm treatment: short term clinical and angiographic result from the prospective registry INSPIRE-A.

Background: Intrasaccular devices have broadened treatment options for wide necked aneurysms. This study presents the preliminary experience with the Artisse 2.0 device.

Coronary Events After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Insights From the France TAVI Registry.

Background: The prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is high. Treatment of a coronary events (CE) after TAVR can be technically challenging.

Objectives: The authors sought to assess the incidence and prognostic impact of CE after TAVR.

Multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial comparing intermittent cefoxitin administration versus loading bolus followed by continuous infusion for the prevention of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery: the PROPHYLOXITIN study protocol.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second leading cause of healthcare-associated infections in Europe with the highest rates being reported in colorectal surgery (ranging from 9% to 30%). Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is one of the most efficient measures for SSI prevention and should be started before surgical incision. Cefoxitin is an antibiotic widely used as SAP for colorectal surgery, but its continuous administration is currently the subject of debate due to its potential pharmacokinetic advantages.

Biodegradation study in FBS media of polycaprolactone patch as a potential prenatal treatment for myelomeningocele.

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital defect of the spine characterized by meningeal and spinal cord protrusion through open vertebral archs, and its exposure to the amniotic fluid. Given that the progression of neuronal loss begins early in fetal life, an early coverage of the defect is required to improve the neurological outcomes. Several studies have proposed patches as an alternative to full surgical repair, to achieve an early protection of the spine and possibly reduce the rate of complications of current prenatal surgical procedures.

Ex vivo electrophysiological evaluation of peripheral nerve functioning following exposition of adult mice to the organophosphorus pesticide chlormephos.

The organophosphorus pesticide chlormephos was tested for its potential peripheral neurotoxicity by analyzing the diphasic compound action potential (CAP) of sciatic nerves isolated from adult mice chronically exposed to a sub-lethal dose of this pesticide, compared with control age-matched animals being only exposed to the vehicle. No significant modification was detected between chlormephos-exposed and control groups in their nerve responsiveness to stimulus. Furthermore, similar values of CAP kinetic variables were obtained from the two mouse groups.

Anaphylaxis definition, overview, and clinical support tool: 2024 consensus report.

Background: The 2006 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (NIAID/FAAN) anaphylaxis criteria are widely used in clinical care and research. In 2020, the World Allergy Organization (WAO) published modified criteria that have not been uniformly adopted. Different criteria contribute to inconsistent care and research outcomes.

Interactions between PEI and biological polyanions and the ability of glycosaminoglycans in destabilizing PEI/peGFP-C3 polyplexes for genetic material release.

The lack of understanding of polyplexes stability and their dissociation mechanisms, allowing the release of DNA, is currently a major limitation in non-viral gene delivery. One proposed mechanism for DNA-based polyplexes dissociation is based on the electrostatic interactions between polycations and biological polyanions, such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This work aimed at investigating whether GAGs such as heparin, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid promote the dissociation of PEI/DNA polyplexes.

Relationship between muscular mass, inflammatory status, tumor metabolic activity and oral intake in head and neck cancer at the outset of management.

Background And Aims: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are often malnourished with a low muscular mass at the outset of management. This is thought to be mainly due to poor nutritional intake. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between tumor metabolic activity, inflammatory status and body composition in HNC patients.

Fetal fibroblast heterogeneity defines dermal architecture during human embryonic skin development.

To investigate heterogeneity of fibroblasts in human fetal skin, we analysed published single-cell RNA sequencing data (8 and 16 post conception weeks (PCW)) and performed single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridisation to map their spatial distribution and predicted dynamic interactions. Clustering revealed 8 fibroblast populations with developmental stage-specific abundance changes. Proliferative cells (MKI67+) were present at all stages.

Pre-clinical Evaluation of New Generation Bridging Stent for Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair using Realistic 3D Printed Aneurysm Models.

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a comparative pre-clinical evaluation of a new fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair dedicated stent using perfused 3D printed patient anatomies.

Methods: The test setup included a pulsatile pump set to reproduce human haemodynamics, four 3D printed pararenal aneurysms connected to a bench test, and four corresponding fenestrated grafts (Zenith Fenestrated; Cook, Bloomington, IN, USA). Bridging stents were sized based on analysis of patients computed tomography scans and included either four standard covered stents (BeGraft [BG]; Bentley, Hechingen, Germany) or four similar covered stent grafts mounted on a modified balloon to allow stent implantation and flaring in one step (BeFlared [BF]; Bentley).

Modifiable risk factors for culture positivity after primary Latarjet procedure. Should we change any practice?

Background: The prevalence of positive cultures in primarily operated shoulders represents a growing concern. Previous studies have documented high rates of culture positivity in primary prosthetic shoulder surgery, yet the Latarjet procedure has not been specifically explored in this context. The aim of this study was to identify the rate of culture positivity in patients treated with a primary Latarjet procedure, and to identify risk factors for culture positivity.

Cholesterol affects the binding of proteins to phosphatidic acid without influencing its ionization properties.

Phosphatidic acid (PA) through its unique negatively charged phosphate headgroup binds to various proteins to modulate multiple cellular events. To perform such diverse signaling functions, the ionization and charge of PA's headgroup relies on the properties of vicinal membrane lipids and changes in cellular conditions. Cholesterol has conspicuous effects on lipid properties and membrane dynamics.

Constructal Thermodynamics and its Semantic Ontology in Autopoetic, Digital, and Computational Architectural and Urban Space Open Systems.

This paper explores the intersections of constructal thermodynamics, and its semantic ontology within the context of autopoetic, digital and computational design in protocell inspired numerical architectural and urban narratives that are examined here as open systems. Constructal law is the thermodynamic theory based on the analysis of fluxes across the border of an open system. Protocells, as dynamic and adaptive open finite size systems, serve in this paper as a compelling metaphor and design model for responsive and sustainable manmade architectural and urban environments.

Synthetic mycolates derivatives to decipher protein mycoloylation, a unique post-translational modification in bacteria.

Protein mycoloylation is a newly characterized post-translational modification (PTM) specifically found in Corynebacteriales, an order of bacteria that includes numerous human pathogens. Their envelope is composed of a unique outer membrane, the so-called mycomembrane made of very-long chain fatty acids, named mycolic acids. Recently, some mycomembrane proteins including PorA have been unambiguously shown to be covalently modified with mycolic acids in the model organism Corynebacterium glutamicum by a mechanism that relies on the mycoloyltransferase MytC.

Morphological Analysis of the Retrotalar Pulley and Its Role in Flexor Hallucis Longus Impingement: Insights from a CT-Based Study.

The Flexor Hallucis Longus (FHL) is a muscle that can be subject to multiple conflicts. The most common conflict is due to inflammation of the tendon at the retrotalar pulley. The constraints exerted on the FHL are responsible for a pathology called functional Hallux Limitus.

Characterization of the N- and C-terminal domain interface of the three main apoE isoforms: A combined quantitative cross-linking mass spectrometry and molecular modeling study.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism is associated with different pathologies such as atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of apoE and isoform-specific structural differences are prerequisites for the rational design of small molecule structure modulators that correct the detrimental effects of pathological isoforms. In this study, cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) targeting Asp, Glu and Lys residues was used to explore the intramolecular interactions in the E2, E3 and E4 isoforms of apoE.

Signalling and social learning in swarms of robots.

This paper investigates the role of communication in improving coordination within robot swarms, focusing on a paradigm where learning and execution occur simultaneously in a decentralized manner. We highlight the role communication can play in addressing the credit assignment problem (individual contribution to the overall performance), and how it can be influenced by it. We propose a taxonomy of existing and future works on communication, focusing on information selection and physical abstraction as principal axes for classification: from low-level lossless compression with raw signal extraction and processing to high-level lossy compression with structured communication models.

Leveraging Guideline-Based Clinical Decision Support Systems with Large Language Models: A Case Study with Breast Cancer.

Background: Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) have been established in most countries to allow experts collaboratively determine the best treatment decisions for cancer patients. However, MTBs often face challenges such as case overload, which can compromise MTB decision quality. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have been introduced to assist clinicians in this process.

Latest clinical frontiers related to autism diagnostic strategies.

The diagnosis of autism is currently based on the developmental history, direct observation of behavior, and reported symptoms, supplemented by rating scales/interviews/structured observational evaluations-which is influenced by the clinician's knowledge and experience-with no established diagnostic biomarkers. A growing body of research has been conducted over the past decades to improve diagnostic accuracy. Here, we provide an overview of the current diagnostic assessment process as well as of recent and ongoing developments to support diagnosis in terms of genetic evaluation, telemedicine, digital technologies, use of machine learning/artificial intelligence, and research on candidate diagnostic biomarkers.

Extracellular volume expansion drives vertebrate axis elongation.

The vertebrate bauplan is primarily established via the formation of embryonic tissues in a head-to-tail progression. The mechanics of this elongation, which requires the presomitic mesoderm (PSM), remain poorly understood. Here, we find that avian PSM explants can elongate autonomously when physically confined in vitro, producing a pushing force promoting posterior elongation of the embryo.

The atypical proteome of mitochondria from mature pollen grains.

To propagate their genetic material, flowering plants rely on the production of large amounts of pollen grains that are capable of germinating on a compatible stigma. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth are thought to be extremely energy-demanding processes. This raises the question of whether mitochondria from pollen grains are specifically tuned to support this developmental process.