Exploring Literacy and Knowledge Gaps and Disparities in Genetics and Oncogenomics Among Cancer Patients and the General Population: A Scoping Review.

Background: Genetic and genomic literacy is pivotal in empowering cancer patients and citizens to navigate the complexities of omics sciences, resolve misconceptions surrounding clinical research and genetic/genomic testing, and make informed decisions about their health. In a fast-evolving scenario where routine testing has become widespread in healthcare, this scoping review sought to pinpoint existing gaps in literacy and understanding among cancer patients and the general public regarding genetics and genomics.

Methods: Adhering to the PRISMA framework, the review included 43 studies published between January 2018 and June 2024, which evaluated the understanding of genetics and genomics among cancer patients, caregivers, and citizens.

Machine Learning for Lung Cancer Subtype Classification: Combining Clinical, Histopathological, and Biophysical Features.

Despite advances in diagnostic techniques, accurate classification of lung cancer subtypes remains crucial for treatment planning. Traditional methods like genomic studies face limitations such as high cost and complexity. This study investigates whether integrating atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements with conventional clinical and histopathological data can improve lung cancer subtype classification.

Effect of Defatting Method on Japanese Quince () Fruit Seed Protein Isolate Technological Properties.

Fruit seeds are often an underutilized side-stream of fruit processing. The most common approach to seed valorization is oil extraction due to the relative simplicity of the process. The partially or fully defatted seed meal is rarely further processed, even though seeds generally contain more protein and fiber than oil.

Characteristics of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and their association with treatment outcomes: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: There are few data on the treatment of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant (MDR) or rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis, especially with more recently available drugs and regimens. We aimed to describe the clinical and treatment characteristics and their associations with treatment outcomes in this susceptible population.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Computational Nuclear Oncology Toward Precision Radiopharmaceutical Therapies: Ethical, Regulatory, and Socioeconomic Dimensions of Theranostic Digital Twins.

Computational nuclear oncology for precision radiopharmaceutical therapy (RPT) is a new frontier for theranostic treatment personalization. A key strategy relies on the possibility to incorporate clinical, biomarker, image-based, and dosimetric information in theranostic digital twins (TDTs) of patients to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. The TDT framework enables treatment optimization by real-time monitoring of the real-world system, simulation of different treatment scenarios, and prediction of resulting treatment outcomes, as well as facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among health care professionals adopting a harmonized TDT.

Survey of legislative frameworks and national recommendations governing paediatric maintenance haemodialysis in Europe.

Background: The application of international recommendations for paediatric maintenance haemodialysis (HD) could be strengthened by national laws or written recommendations. Our aim was therefore to describe the national rules governing paediatric maintenance HD in European countries.

Methods: A national representative, approved by the president of each paediatric nephrology society, was contacted in all 42 European countries to complete two online questionnaires.

Hydrogen-Bonding-Driven Design of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Ferroelastics with Reversible Photoisomerization.

The development of photoresponsive ferroelastics, which couple light-induced macroscopic mechanical and microscopic domain properties, represents a frontier in materials science with profound implications for advanced functional applications. In this study, we report the rational design and synthesis of two new organic-inorganic hybrid ferroelastic crystals, (MA)(MeN)[Fe(CN)(NO)] (MA = methylammonium) () and (MA)(MeNOH)[Fe(CN)(NO)] (), using a dual-organic molecular design strategy that exploits hydrogen-bonding interactions for tailoring ferroelastic properties. Specifically, exhibits a two-step phase transition at 138 and 242 K, while the introduction of a hydroxyl group in stabilizes its ferroelastic phase to a significantly higher temperature, achieving a phase transition at 328 K, 86 K above that of .

Colour Vision Deficits in Children with Amblyopia: Impact of Angular Size of Stimuli on Detection.

This study investigates colour vision deficits in children with amblyopia by employing a computerized colour vision test with varying stimulus sizes (1°, 2°, and 3°). The aim is to delineate the impact of amblyopia on colour discrimination in children and to determine the effectiveness of the computerized colour vision test in detecting these deficits. The study involved 40 participants, divided into 20 children with amblyopia and 20 without amblyopia (control group).

Heterogeneous and higher-order cortical connectivity undergirds efficient, robust, and reliable neural codes.

We hypothesized that the heterogeneous architecture of biological neural networks provides a substrate to regulate the well-known tradeoff between robustness and efficiency, thereby allowing different subpopulations of the same network to optimize for different objectives. To distinguish between subpopulations, we developed a metric based on the mathematical theory of simplicial complexes that captures the complexity of their connectivity by contrasting its higher-order structure to a random control and confirmed its relevance in several openly available connectomes. Using a biologically detailed cortical model and an electron microscopic dataset, we showed that subpopulations with low simplicial complexity exhibit efficient activity.

HBM4EU E-waste study - An untargeted metabolomics approach to characterize metabolic changes during E-waste recycling.

E-waste contains hazardous chemicals that may be a direct health risk for workers involved in recycling. We conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of urine samples collected from male e-waste processing workers to explore metabolic changes associated with chemical exposures in e-waste recycling in Belgium, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal. Questionnaire data and urine samples were obtained from workers involved in the processing of e-waste (sorting, dismantling, shredding, pre-processing, metal, and non-metal processing), as well as from controls with no known occupational exposure.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Deep learning captures the effect of epistasis in multifactorial diseases.

Background: Polygenic risk score (PRS) prediction is widely used to assess the risk of diagnosis and progression of many diseases. Routinely, the weights of individual SNPs are estimated by the linear regression model that assumes independent and linear contribution of each SNP to the phenotype. However, for complex multifactorial diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and others, association between individual SNPs and disease could be non-linear due to epistatic interactions.

Towards a sustainable set of European Core Health Indicators (ECHI).

Background: The European Core Health Indicators (ECHI) are a set of 88 indicators that provide a compact overview of the extensive field of European public health and healthcare. The ECHI set adds value to European Union health information systems (HIS) for both Member States and EU-associated countries and the European Commission by providing a solid, comparable information base on national public health and healthcare trends and developments. The indicators allow for learning by comparison and the list supports the organisation of national health information systems.

General practitioners' clinical decision-making in patients that could have cancer: a vignette study comparing the Baltic states with four Nordic countries.

Objective: Relative one-year cancer survival rates in the Baltic states are lower than the European mean; in the Nordic countries they are higher than the mean. This study investigated the likelihood of General Practitioners (GPs) investigating or referring patients with a low but significant risk of cancer in these two regions, and how this was affected by GP demographics.

Design: A survey of GPs using clinical vignettes.

Insights from a century of data reveal global trends in ex situ living plant collections.

Ex situ living plant collections play a crucial role in providing nature-based solutions to twenty-first century global challenges. However, the complex dynamics of these artificial ecosystems are poorly quantified and understood, affecting biodiversity storage, conservation and utilization. To evaluate the management of ex situ plant diversity, we analysed a century of data comprising 2.

The Impact of Ankle Plantar-Flexor Muscle Strength on Sprint Acceleration in Floorball Players.

Purpose: Speed is a crucial physical characteristic where each lower-limb ankle plantar-flexor (PF) muscle needs to generate significant force; however, there is limited evidence about the relationship between single-limb isometric, and reactive strength forms, and linear sprint. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the maximal unilateral isometric strength of the ankle PF muscle and reactive strength on sprint acceleration performance.

Material And Methods: Thirty-two male floorball players (mean [SD] age 20.

Exercise-induced extracellular vesicles in reprogramming energy metabolism in cancer.

Cancer is caused by complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, making prevention strategies, including exercise, a promising avenue for intervention. Physical activity is associated with reduced cancer incidence and progression and systemic anti-cancer effects, including improved tumor suppression and prolonged survival in preclinical models. Exercise impacts the body's nutrient balance and stimulates the release of several exercise-induced factors into circulation.

V̇Opeak estimation in people with overweight and obesity before and after a 14-week lifestyle intervention.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the validity and applicability of a non-exercise estimation of cardiorespiratory fitness using resting seismocardiography (SCG eV̇Opeak) in people with overweight and obesity before and after a 14-week lifestyle intervention.

Methods: The study was carried out at a Folk high school that offers 14-week courses on lifestyle changes where participants live at the school and voluntarily participate in daily lectures and activities. Sixty-seven men and women with age and body mass index between 18 and 70 years and 25-50 kg·m were tested at baseline, and 52 had a follow-up test after 14 weeks.

Urban flood dilemmas: How European cities growth shapes flood risk and resilience strategies?

Extensive research across European cities underscores the importance of assessing urbanization's impact on flood risk, focusing on river-induced floods and impermeable areas. Using advanced statistical tools, we investigated urban green coverage, Urban Morphological Zones (UMZ), and sealing (imperviousness) levels and effects. Our analysis found that Continuous Urban Fabric (sealed surface >80%) and Discontinuous Dense Urban Fabric (sealed surface 50%-80%) showed negative relationships within river flooding risk.

De novo and inherited dominant variants in U4 and U6 snRNAs cause retinitis pigmentosa.

The U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms a duplex with the U6 snRNA and, together with U5 and ~30 proteins, is part of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex, located at the core of the major spliceosome. Recently, recurrent variants in the U4 RNA, transcribed from the gene, and in at least two other genes were discovered to cause neurodevelopmental disorder.

Effects of and on the duodenal development of specific-pathogen-free broiler chickens.

Background And Aim: The positive effects of and on growth and feed consumption indicators have been described; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the addition of CNCM-I-3699 (2.10 GU/g) and CNCM-I-3698 (2.

Occurrence levels of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCA) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSA) in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) samples collected from inland waters in Latvia: Component profiles, spatial distribution and dietary exposure to consumers.

This study was performed to evaluate the occurrence of perfluorinated substances (PFAS) in European perch (Perca fluviatilis) samples from Latvian freshwater bodies. Twenty-nine samples of perch tissue homogenates were analyzed on the content of PFAS representing different sampling sites to cover all territory of Latvia evenly. The total PFAS concentrations (∑) ranged from 0.

Digital dietary interventions for healthy adolescents: A systematic review of behavior change techniques, engagement strategies, and adherence.

Background: Adolescence is a crucial phase for developing healthy eating habits with lifelong health implications. Digital interventions, such as smartphone apps and web platforms, have emerged as promising strategies to promote healthy eating habits among adolescents by using behavior change techniques (BCTs). This study aims to systematically review internet-based dietary interventions targeting adolescents, focusing on the analysis of BCTs employed, their delivery modes, and their impact on adolescents' adherence and engagement.