Dynamic 18 F-FDG PET to detect differences among patients with progressive and relapsing multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may remain in a relapsing-remitting (RRMS) course despite long-standing disease, while others will develop secondary progression (SPMS). Chronic inflammation and changes in the blood-brain barrier resulting in perturbed glucose metabolism may account for these differences. PET-MRI with kinetic analysis of 2-deoxy-2(18 F)fluoro-d-glucose (18 F-FDG) provides insight into glucose metabolism and has proven useful in several chronic inflammatory diseases.

Emerging role of circulating piRNAs in the diagnosis of heart transplant rejection.

Background: Liquid biopsy offers a potential alternative to decrease or eliminate endomyocardial biopsy for diagnosing allograft rejection. p-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are novel and promising disease biomarkers for their intrinsic characteristics such as stability in body fluids; however, their role in allograft rejection remains unexplored.

Methods: A training set based on small RNA sequencing technology was performed to identify piRNAs in endomyocardial tissue (n = 8) and serum samples (n = 40) from patients following heart transplantation.

Early Metabolomic Profiling as a Predictor of Renal Function Six Months After Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease; however, predicting graft outcomes remains a significant challenge. Early identification of reliable biomarkers could enhance post-transplant management and improve long-term outcomes. This study aimed to identify metabolomic biomarkers within the first week after kidney transplantation that predict renal function at six months.

Recipient-Donor Sex Constellation in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma-An ELTR Study.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Liver transplantation (LT) is a curative treatment option. We investigated survival outcomes based on recipient-donor sex constellation (RDSC) following LT.

Incidence of post-acute COVID-19 symptoms across healthcare settings in seven countries: an international retrospective cohort study using routinely-collected data.

Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified a range of symptomatic manifestations to aid in the clinical diagnosis of post-COVID conditions, herein referred to as post-acute COVID-19 symptoms. We conducted an international network cohort study to estimate the burden of these symptoms in North American, European, and Asian populations.

Methods: A federated analysis was conducted including 10 databases from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, Estonia, Spain, France, South Korea, and the United States, between September 1st 2020 and latest data availability (which varied from December 31st 2021 to February 28th 2023), covering primary and secondary care, nationwide registries, and claims data, all mapped to the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP CDM).

A real‑world study of clinical characteristics, treatment sequence and outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.

Objectives: EGFR exon 20 insertion (EGFRex20ins) mutations are found in up to 4% of all patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These patients are often insensitive to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and have worse prognosis than patients with more common EGFR mutations. In this multicenter, retrospective, real-world study, we sought to determine whether the administration of recently approved treatments that specifically target EGFRex20ins mutations could significantly improve outcomes in this patient population.

Study of pediatric invasive pneumococcal disease in the 13-pneumococcal conjugated vaccine era.

Background: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) remains a significant concern among children under 5, despite vaccination efforts. This study assessed IPD prevalence and associated risks in pediatric population.

Methods: An observational, retrospective, multicenter study in Comunidad Valenciana, Spain, of IPD cases in children under 13 from January 2012 to September 2022.

Transcriptomic Alterations in Spliceosome Components in Advanced Heart Failure: Status of Cardiac-Specific Alternative Splicing Factors.

Heart failure (HF) is associated with global changes in gene expression. Alternative mRNA splicing (AS) is a key regulatory mechanism underlying these changes. However, the whole status of molecules involved in the splicing process in human HF is unknown.

Metabolic Pathways Affected in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis and Their Relationship with Inflammation.

Worldwide, 3.9 million individuals rely on kidney replacement therapy. They experience heightened susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases and mortality, alongside an increased risk of infections and malignancies, with inflammation being key to explaining this intensified risk.

GLUD1 determines murine muscle stem cell fate by controlling mitochondrial glutamate levels.

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) enable muscle growth and regeneration after exercise or injury, but how metabolism controls their regenerative potential is poorly understood. We describe that primary metabolic changes can determine murine MuSC fate decisions. We found that glutamine anaplerosis into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle decreases during MuSC differentiation and coincides with decreased expression of the mitochondrial glutamate deaminase GLUD1.

Delving into the clinical impact of NETs in pediatric cancer.

Pediatric cancer, a complex and heterogeneous group of diseases, continues to challenge medical research and treatment strategies. Despite advances in precision medicine and immunotherapy, certain aggressive subtypes of pediatric cancer are resistant to conventional therapies, requiring further exploration of potential therapeutic targets. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), net-like structures released by neutrophils, have emerged as a potential player in the pediatric cancer landscape.

Perioperative Immunosuppressive Factors during Cancer Surgery: An Updated Review.

Surgical excision of the primary tumor represents the most frequent and curative procedure for solid malignancies. Compelling evidence suggests that, despite its beneficial effects, surgery may impair immunosurveillance by triggering an immunosuppressive inflammatory stress response and favor recurrence by stimulating minimal residual disease. In addition, many factors interfere with the immune effectors before and after cancer procedures, such as malnutrition, anemia, or subsequent transfusion.

Y-90 PET/MR imaging optimization with a Bayesian penalized likelihood reconstruction algorithm.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging after Y liver radioembolization is used for both lesion identification and dosimetry. Bayesian penalized likelihood (BPL) reconstruction algorithms are an alternative to ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) with improved image quality and lesion detectability. The investigation of optimal parameters for Y image reconstruction of Q.

Oxylipin profile of human milk and human milk-derived extracellular vesicles.

Background: Small Extracellular Vesicles (sEVs) are nano-sized vesicles that are present in all biofluids including human milk (HM) playing a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication and the stimulation of the neonatal immune system. Oxylipins, which are bioactive lipids formed from polyunsaturated fatty acids, have gained considerable attention due to their potential role in mitigating disease progression and modulating the inflammatory status of breastfed infants. This study aims at an in-depth characterization of the oxylipin profiles of HM and, for the first time, of HM-derived sEVs (HMEVs) employing an ad-hoc developed and validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method.

Extracellular vesicles from dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells modulate macrophage phenotype during acute and chronic cardiac inflammation in athymic nude rats with myocardial infarction.

Background/aims: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (DP-MSCs) are a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of myocardial ischemia. The aim of this study is to determine whether MSC-EVs could promote a pro-resolving environment in the heart by modulating macrophage populations.

Methods: EVs derived from three independent biopsies of DP-MSCs (MSC-EVs) were isolated by tangential flow-filtration and size exclusion chromatography and were characterized by omics analyses.

Circulating long non-coding RNAs detection after heart transplantation and its accuracy in the diagnosis of acute cardiac rejection.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely implicated in biological processes and diseases with high inflammatory components. These molecules exhibit significant temporal and tissue specificity. However, the expression and function of lncRNAs have not been studied in patients after heart transplantation.

External validation of models to predict hepatocellular carcinoma in Hepatitis C Virus cured F3-F4 patients.

Background & Aims: Several hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk-models have been developed to individualise patient surveillance following sustained viral response (SVR) in Hepatitis C Virus patients. Validation of these models in different cohorts is an important step to incorporate a more personalised risk assessment in clinical practice. We aimed at applying these models to stratify the risk in our patients and potentially determine cost-saving associated with individualised HCC risk-stratification screening strategy.