Machine learning-derived multivariable predictors of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.

Objective: To develop a model for preoperatively predicting postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) in patients with poor left ventricular (LV) function undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: From the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Database, 11,493 patients with LV ejection fraction ≤35% underwent isolated on-pump surgery from 2018 through 2019, of whom 3428 experienced PCCS. In total, 68 preoperative clinical variables were considered in machine-learning algorithms trained and optimized using scikit-learn software.

Toward expert-level medical question answering with large language models.

Large language models (LLMs) have shown promise in medical question answering, with Med-PaLM being the first to exceed a 'passing' score in United States Medical Licensing Examination style questions. However, challenges remain in long-form medical question answering and handling real-world workflows. Here, we present Med-PaLM 2, which bridges these gaps with a combination of base LLM improvements, medical domain fine-tuning and new strategies for improving reasoning and grounding through ensemble refinement and chain of retrieval.

Insight into distribution and composition of nonhuman N-Glycans in mammalian organs via MALDI-TOF and MALDI-MSI.

The major hurdle of xenotransplantation is the immune response triggered by human natural antibodies interacting with carbohydrate antigens on the transplanted animal organ. Specifically, terminal glycoprotein motifs such as galactose-α1,3-galactose (α-Gal) and N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) are significant obstacles. Little is known about the abundance and compositions of asparagine-linked complex carbohydrates (N-glycans) carrying these motifs in mammalian organs.

Neither Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate nor Platelet-Rich Plasma Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes After Surgical Management of Acetabular Labral Tears; However, Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate May Be Effective for Moderate Cartilage Damage: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To (1) systematically assess which orthobiologic agents are being used in acetabular labral repairs and (2) report all available outcomes for patients undergoing operative management for labral repairs with orthobiologic agents.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were queried in August 2023. Articles were included if they used an orthobiologic agent during hip arthroscopy for acetabular labral repair and reported functional outcomes.

Optimized Directed Virus Evolution to Accelerate the Generation of Oncolytic Coxsackievirus B3 Adapted to Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Recently, we demonstrated that the oncolytic Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) strain PD-H can be efficiently adapted to resistant colorectal cancer cells through dose-dependent passaging in colorectal cancer cells. However, the method is time-consuming, which limits its clinical applicability. Here, we investigated whether the manufacturing time of the adapted virus can be reduced by replacing the dose-based passaging with volume-based passaging.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Other Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Infants During the 2023-2024 Winter Season in Mexico.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in young children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant change in the epidemiology of RSV and other viruses occurred worldwide, leading to a reduction in the circulation of these infectious agents. After the pandemic, the resurgence of seasonal respiratory viruses occurred, but some features of these infections contrast to those registered prior to the pandemic.

Novel Lipid Formulation Increases Absorption of Oral Cannabidiol (CBD).

: Cannabidiol (CBD) is an approved treatment for childhood epilepsies and a candidate treatment for several other CNS disorders. However, it has poor oral bioavailability. We investigated the effect of a novel lipid formulation on its absorption in humans and on its tissue distribution in mice.

Harnessing the Antibacterial, Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Carcinogenic Properties of Linn (Tulsi).

Linn ( L.), commonly known as Holy Basil or Tulsi, is a fragrant herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This plant is widely cultivated and found in north-central parts of India, several Arab countries, West Africa and tropical regions of the Eastern World.

Clonal Integration Promotes the Photosynthesis of Clonal Plant Under Heterogeneous Pb and/or Pyrene Stress.

Clonal plants can support the growth of their ramets in heterogeneous environments through clonal integration between the ramets. However, the role of clonal integration in modulating ramet photosynthesis under toxic stress, especially combined stress, is unclear. This study examines the impact of clonal integration on under three heterogeneous stresses (Pb, pyrene, and Pb+Pyrene) with two stolon connection conditions (connected and disconnected).

Innovative Honey-Based Product and Its Beneficial Effects Measured by Modern Biophysical and Imaging Skin Techniques.

Background: Honey is widely recognized for its potential benefits in skincare, yet its incorporation into formulations is challenging due to its stickiness. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hand creams with varying concentrations of multifloral honey (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% /) on skin parameters and to assess their application characteristics.

Methods: A total of 24 volunteers were divided into two groups, each receiving a blinded pair of creams (0%/10% or 5%/15% honey) to apply on their left and right hands.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Enhances the Therapeutic Effect of IGF-Trap in Intracerebral Glioma Models.

Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive malignancy with a dismal 5-year survival rate of 5-10%. Current therapeutic options are limited, due in part to drug exclusion by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have previously shown that high-amplitude repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in rats allowed the delivery across the BBB of an IGF signaling inhibitor-IGF-Trap.

Microbubble-Protected Oncolytic Virotherapy Targeted by Sonoporation Induces Tumor Necrosis and T-Lymphocyte Infiltration in Humanized Mice Bearing Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Oncolytic virotherapy has shown great promise in mediating targeted tumor destruction through tumor-selective replication and induction of anti-tumor immunity; however, obstacles remain for virus candidates to reach the clinic. These include avoiding neutralizing antibodies, preventing stimulation of the adaptive immune response during intravenous administration, and inducing sufficient apoptosis and immune activation so that the body's defense can work to eradicate systemic disease. We have developed a co-formulation of oncolytic viruses (OVs) with Imagent lipid-encapsulated, perfluorocarbon microbubbles (MBs) to protect the OVs from the innate and adaptive immune system.

Current Insights into the Roles of LncRNAs and CircRNAs in Pulpitis: A Narrative Review.

Pulpitis, an inflammation of the dental pulp, is generated by bacterial invasion through different ways as caries. In the establishment and development of this disease, different biological processes are involved. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) are transcripts with regulatory capacity participating in different biological functions and have been implicated in different diseases.

Foliar Application of Silicon Influences the Physiological and Epigenetic Responses of Wheat Grown Under Salt Stress.

Soil salinity is considered a serious problem that limits agricultural productivity. Currently, solutions are being sought to mitigate the negative impact of salt on economically important crops. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of silicon (Si) on the physiological and epigenetic responses of wheat grown under salt stress conditions.

Transcutaneous Kilohertz High-Frequency Alternating Current at 10 kHz for Upper-Limb Tremor in People with Parkinson's Disease: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Crossover Study.

Preclinical studies have evidenced a peripheral nerve blockade with kilohertz high-frequency alternating current (KHFAC) stimulation. It could have a potential effect on aberrant nerve hyperactivity, such as tremor in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). The objective was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous KHFAC at 10 kHz compared with sham intervention on tremor modulation, upper limb motor function, and adverse events in PwPD.

Increased Antibiotic Susceptibility of Gram-Positive Bacteria in Cerebrospinal Fluid Compared to Broth.

In hospital- and community-acquired central nervous system infections, resistant Gram-positive bacteria are an increasing therapeutic challenge. The present approach does not attempt to identify rapidly bactericidal therapies for susceptible pathogens but aims to improve methods to find antibiotic regimens for multi-resistant pathogens that are effective in vivo in spite of reduced in vitro susceptibility in culture media. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and Mueller-Hinton broth (, methicillin-resistant , ) or brain-heart infusion ().

Electroencephalography (EEG) for Neurological Prognostication in Post-Anoxic Coma Following Cardiac Arrest and Its Relationship to Outcome.

Background/objectives: Cardiac arrest may cause significant hypoxic-ischemic injury leading to coma, seizures, myoclonic jerks, or status epilepticus. Mortality is high, but accurate prognostication is challenging. A multimodal approach is employed, in which electroencephalography (EEG) forms a key part with several recognised patterns of prognostic significance.

Evaluation of Thermal Liquid Biopsy Analysis of Saliva and Blood Plasma Specimens as a Novel Diagnostic Modality in Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Over the past decade, saliva-based liquid biopsies have emerged as promising tools for the early diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of cancer, particularly in high-risk populations. However, challenges persist because of low concentrations and variable modifications of biomarkers linked to tumor development when compared to normal salivary components.

Methods: This study explores the application of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)-based thermal liquid biopsy (TLB) for analyzing saliva and blood plasma samples from head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

Multi-omics analysis of long-term cultured human islets.

β-cell dysfunction in pancreatic islets, characterized as either the loss of β-cell mass or the resistance of β-cell to glucose, is the leading cause of progression to diabetes. Islet transplantation became a promising approach to replenish functional β-cell mass. However, not much known about changes in islets used for transplantation after isolation.

Deep mutational scanning of rabies glycoprotein defines mutational constraint and antibody-escape mutations.

Rabies virus causes nearly 60,000 human deaths annually. Antibodies that target the rabies glycoprotein (G) are being developed as post-exposure prophylactics, but mutations in G can render such antibodies ineffective. Here, we use pseudovirus deep mutational scanning to measure how all single amino-acid mutations to G affect cell entry and neutralization by a panel of antibodies.

Mitochondrial DNA variant detection in over 6,500 rare disease families by the systematic analysis of exome and genome sequencing data resolves undiagnosed cases.

Background: Variants in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) cause a diverse collection of mitochondrial diseases and have extensive phenotypic overlap with Mendelian diseases encoded on the nuclear genome. The mtDNA is often not specifically evaluated in patients with suspected Mendelian disease, resulting in overlooked diagnostic variants.

Methods: Using dedicated pipelines to address the technical challenges posed by the mtDNA - circular genome, variant heteroplasmy, and nuclear misalignment - single nucleotide variants, small indels, and large mtDNA deletions were called from exome and genome sequencing data, in addition to RNA-sequencing when available.

Impact of the Good Samaritan Law on bystander intervention willingness and perceived legal risks in India.

Background: Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are a global health burden, particularly in India, where response times for first responders can be prolonged. Prior to enactment of a Good Samaritan Law (GSL) in 2016, involved bystanders could face criminal and financial liability for assisting at an RTC site. This study evaluates the impact of GSL on bystander RTC attitudes, awareness, and experiences in India, comparing outcomes pre- and post-GSL implementation across metropolitan cities (MCs) and nonmetropolitan cities (NMCs).

Monitoring and discussion on river carbon and nitrogen fluxes in the Pearl River Estuary region.

Rivers link land and sea, playing an important role in the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. By conducting surveys and research on river flow in a specific region, we can gain a better understanding of the nitrogen and carbon sinks in the area and their contributions to the environment. In this study, we conducted bi-annual sampling and monitoring of river flow in the Pearl River Delta downstream of Zhuhai, China, and collected hydrological information.