Consensus on Symptom Selection for Endometriosis Questionnaires: A Modified e-Delphi Study.

Objective: To build consensus on most important symptoms and related consequences for use in questionnaires to characterise individuals with suspected and confirmed endometriosis in the general population.

Design: A questionnaire of 107 symptoms and related consequences of endometriosis was collaboratively developed by patients, medical doctors and researchers and further assessed in a two-round e-Delphi study. Participants assessed the relevance of the symptoms, and a priori it was decided that 70% was the threshold for inclusion of a symptom.

α-Synuclein interaction with POPC/POPS vesicles.

We have investigated the adsorption of the amyloid-forming protein α-Synuclein (αSyn) onto small unilamellar vesicles composed of a mixture of zwitterionic POPC and anionic POPS lipids. αSyn monomers adsorb onto the anionic lipid vesicles where they adopt an α-helical secondary structure. The degree of adsorption depends on the fraction of anionic lipid in the mixed lipid membrane, but one needs to consider the electrostatic shift of the serine p with increasing fraction of POPS.

Evaluation of Silica and Bioglass Nanomaterials in Pulp-like Living Materials.

Although silicon is a widespread constituent in dental materials, its possible influence on the formation and repair of teeth remains largely unexplored. Here, we studied the effect of two silicic acid-releasing nanomaterials, silica and bioglass, on a living model of pulp consisting of dental pulp stem cells seeded in dense type I collagen hydrogels. Silica nanoparticles and released silicic acid had little effect on cell viability and mineralization efficiency but impacted metabolic activity, delayed matrix remodeling, and led to heterogeneous cell distribution.

A deep learning modular ECG approach for cardiologist assisted adjudication of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter episodes.

Background: Detection of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATA) on long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings is a prerequisite to reduce ATA-related adverse events. However, the burden of editing massive ECG data is not sustainable. Deep learning (DL) algorithms provide improved performances on resting ECG databases.

2024 HRS perspective on advancing workflows for CIED remote monitoring.

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) generate substantial data, often stored in image or PDF formats. Remote monitoring, now an integral component of patient care, places considerable administrative burdens on clinicians and staff, in large part due to the challenge of integrating these data seamlessly into electronic health records. Since 2006, the Heart Rhythm Society, in collaboration with the CIED industry, has led an initiative to establish a unified standard nomenclature.

Microrheometric study of damage and rupture of capsules in simple shear flow.

Capsules, which are potentially-active fluid droplets enclosed in a thin elastic membrane, experience large deformations when placed in suspension. The induced fluid-structure interaction stresses can potentially lead to rupture of the capsule membrane. While numerous experimental studies have focused on the rheological behavior of capsules until rupture, there remains a gap in understanding the evolution of their mechanical properties and the underlying mechanisms of damage and breakup under flow.

Variations in linear energy transfer distributions within a European proton therapy planning comparison of paediatric posterior fossa tumours.

Background And Purpose: Radiotherapy for paediatric posterior fossa tumours may cause complications in the brainstem and upper spinal cord due to high doses. With proton therapy (PT) this risk may increase due to higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) from elevated linear energy transfer (LET). This study assesses variations in LET in the brainstem and spinal cord in proton treatment plans from European centres.

Head and neck automatic multi-organ segmentation on Dual-Energy Computed Tomography.

Background And Purpose: Deep-learning-based automatic segmentation is widely used in radiation oncology to delineate organs-at-risk. Dual-energy CT (DECT) allows the reconstruction of enhanced contrast images that could help with manual and auto-delineation. This paper presents a performance evaluation of a commercial auto-segmentation software on image series generated by a DECT.

An Open-source Python Tool for Traction Force Microscopy on Micropatterned Substrates.

Cell-generated forces play a critical role in driving and regulating complex biological processes, such as cell migration and division and cell and tissue morphogenesis in development and disease. Traction force microscopy (TFM) is an established technique developed in the field of mechanobiology used to quantify cellular forces exerted on soft substrates and internal mechanical tissue stresses. TFM measures cell-generated traction forces in 2D or 3D environments with varying mechanical and biochemical properties.

Evolving Appetites: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives in Terms of Meat Substitutes in Europe.

Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental and health impacts of their food choices, leading to changes in consumption behavior. This study examines the consumption patterns and behaviors of European consumers regarding meat substitutes and identifies factors influencing their acceptance as alternative protein sources. The study involved 5000 participants from four European countries-France, Germany, Italy, and Spain with data extracted from the Mintel consumer database in 2024.

Combining Individual-Based Radio-Tracking With Whole-Genome Sequencing Data Reveals Candidate for Genetic Basis of Partial Migration in a Songbird.

Partial migration is a phenomenon where migratory and resident individuals of the same species co-exist within a population, and has been linked to both intrinsic (e.g., genetic) as well as environmental factors.

Study on the Mobile Colistin Resistance (mcr-1) Gene in Gram-Negative Bacilli in a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Maharashtra.

Background: Colistin, a last-resort antibiotic for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, has increased resistance as a result of the emergence of the gene. The 1gene, which confers colistin resistance, is often carried on plasmids, facilitating its spread by horizontal gene transfer among bacterial populations. The rising prevalence of 1mediated resistance poses significant challenges for infection control and treatment efficacy.

The role of artificial intelligence and image processing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of liver cancer: a narrative-review.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and image processing are revolutionising the diagnosis and management of liver cancer. Recent advancements showcase AI's ability to analyse medical imaging data, like computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance imaging, accurately detecting and classifying liver cancer lesions for early intervention. Predictive models aid prognosis estimation and recurrence pattern identification, facilitating personalised treatment planning.

CIRCUS: CIRCUlating tumour cells in soft tissue Sarcoma - a short report.

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) can be detected in peripheral blood using their physical properties (increased size and less deformable than normal circulating blood cells) or using cell surface markers. The study of these CTCs should provide important insights into tumour biology, including mechanisms of drug resistance. We performed a pilot study (IRAS ID: 235459) to evaluate if CTCs could be isolated from peripheral blood samples collected from soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients.

A multimodal neural signature of face processing in autism within the fusiform gyrus.

Atypical face processing is commonly reported in autism. Its neural correlates have been explored extensively across single neuroimaging modalities within key regions of the face processing network, such as the fusiform gyrus (FFG). Nonetheless, it is poorly understood how variation in brain anatomy and function jointly impacts face processing and social functioning.

The cardiac blood transcriptome predicts de novo onset of atrial fibrillation in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) increases the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, better prediction of this risk may improve treatment strategies. Although several predictors based on clinical data have been developed, the establishment of a transcriptome-based predictor of AF incidence in HF has proven to be more problematic.

Evaluating the impact of a hand-crafted 3D-Printed head Model and virtual reality in skull base surgery training.

Introduction: While cadaveric dissections remain the cornerstone of education in skull base surgery, they are associated with high costs, difficulty acquiring specimens, and a lack of pathology in anatomical samples. This study evaluated the impact of a hand-crafted three-dimensional (3D)-printed head model and virtual reality (VR) in enhancing skull base surgery training.

Research Question: How effective are 3D-printed models and VR in enhancing training in skull base surgery?

Materials And Methods: A two-day skull base training course was conducted with 12 neurosurgical trainees and 11 faculty members.

Recommendations on the management of meningioma and sex hormone therapy: The results of a collaborative effort between neurosurgical, endocrine and gynecological societies.

Introduction: Exogenous and endogenous sex hormones, especially Progesterone agonists, may be causally linked to meningioma progression. Cessation of treatment leads to stabilization or regression of Progestin-induced meningioma. In many cases, avoiding sex hormone therapy may be possible in the context of meningioma treatment.

HeberNasvac: Development and Application in the Context of Chronic Hepatitis B.

Unlabelled: The immune system plays a central role in controlling acute hepatitis B infection and in patients resolving chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Given that 221 million (75%) of CHB patients reside in low- and middle-income countries, the development of a vaccine with therapeutic properties represents a rational and cost-effective approach more than a romantic endeavor. This review systematically analyzes the key variables related to the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of CHB treatments.

Data on full stationary wave-field measurement of a suspended steel plate punctually loaded.

The dataset presented contains the experimental structural response, in the frequency domain, of a suspended steel plate to a point force excitation. The plate is excited by a mechanical point force generated by a Brüel & kJær shaker with a white noise signal input from 3.125 Hz to 2000 Hz.

High nature value farming systems in Europe: A dataset encompassing the environmental impact assessment of farms and extensive ruminant food products.

High Nature Value (HNV) farming systems occur in areas where the major land use is agriculture and are characterized by their significance in promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services due to their extensive land use. Despite their importance for ecological and socio-economic resilience of rural regions, these systems are often overlooked in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies due to challenges in data compilation, especially from small local farms and because of the diversity of production. To address this gap, we established an international collaborative network across Europe, involving professionals directly engaged with farmers, farmer associations, and researchers to collect data on HNV farms employing a developed questionnaire examining inputs and outputs, farm structures, and herd characteristics.

Brief Report: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Thoracic SMARCA4-Deficient Undifferentiated Tumors.

Introduction: Thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumors (SMARCA4-UTs) are a recently defined group of aggressive cancers in which the effectiveness of standard treatments for lung cancer is unknown.

Methods: We collected clinical, pathologic, and demographic variables from five institutions for patients whose tumors met criteria for SMARCA4-UTs (undifferentiated phenotype and loss of SMARCA4 (BRG1) by immunohistochemistry).

Results: We identified 92 patients with SMARCA4-UTs; 58 (63%) had stage IV disease at diagnosis and 16 (17%) developed recurrent or metastatic disease after initial diagnosis.

Genomes and integrative genomic insights into the genetic architecture of main agronomic traits in the edible cherries.

Cherries are one of the economically important fruit crops in the Rosaceae family, genus. As the first fruits of the spring season in the northern hemisphere, their attractive appearance, intensely desirable tastes, high nutrients content, and consumer-friendly size captivate consumers worldwide. In the past 30 years, although cherry geneticists and breeders have greatly progressed in understanding the genetic and molecular basis underlying fruit quality, adaptation to climate change, and biotic and abiotic stress resistance, the utilization of cherry genomic data in genetics and molecular breeding has remained limited to date.

Genome-wide association analysis of flowering date in a collection of cultivated olive tree.

Flowering date in perennial fruit trees is an important trait for fruit production. Depending on the winter and spring temperatures, flowering of olive may be advanced, delayed, or even suppressed. Deciphering the genetic control of flowering date is thus key to help selecting cultivars better adapted to the current climate context.

Differentiating Latent Tuberculosis from Active Tuberculosis Through Activation Phenotypes and Chemokine Markers HLA-DR, CD38, MCP-1, and RANTES: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Latent TB infection (LTBI) affects one fourth of the global population. Currently, there is an absence of an optimal strategy for distinguishing between active tuberculosis (aTB) and LTBI. While some researchers have explored cytokines other than interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as biomarkers, results have shown significant variability in their ability to differentiate between these conditions.