Resistance to mesenchymal reprogramming sustains clonal propagation in metastatic breast cancer.

The acquisition of mesenchymal traits is considered a hallmark of breast cancer progression. However, the functional relevance of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) remains controversial and context dependent. Here, we isolate epithelial and mesenchymal populations from human breast cancer metastatic biopsies and assess their functional potential in vivo.

The potential role of scavenging flies as mechanical vectors of Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2.

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations of the Iberian Peninsula have been severely affected by the emergence of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) Lagovirus europaeus/GI.2 (RHDV2/b). Bushflies and blowflies (Muscidae and Calliphoridae families, respectively) are important RHDV vectors in Oceania, but their epidemiological role is unknown in the native range of the European rabbit.

Usage Pattern and Nicotine Delivery during Ad Libitum Consumption of Pod E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products.

Many different nicotine delivery products, such as e-cigarettes (e-cigs) or heated tobacco products (HTPs), are available on the market. To better understand these products, it is crucial to learn how consumers use them and how much nicotine they deliver. Therefore, a pod e-cig, an HTP, and a conventional cigarette (CC) were each used by 15 experienced users of the respective product category for 90 min without special use instructions ("ad libitum").

The gut microbiome: A line of defense against tuberculosis development.

The tuberculosis (TB) burden remains a significant global public health concern, especially in less developed countries. While pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is the most common form of the disease, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, particularly intestinal TB (ITB), which is mostly secondary to PTB, is also a significant issue. With the development of sequencing technologies, recent studies have investigated the potential role of the gut microbiome in TB development.

Limits and Prospects of Molecular Fingerprinting for Phenotyping Biological Systems Revealed through Modeling.

Molecular fingerprinting via vibrational spectroscopy characterizes the chemical composition of molecularly complex media which enables the classification of phenotypes associated with biological systems. However, the interplay between factors such as biological variability, measurement noise, chemical complexity, and cohort size makes it challenging to investigate their impact on how the classification performs. Considering these factors, we developed an model which generates realistic, but configurable, molecular fingerprints.

Infants' Folate Markers and Postnatal Growth in the First 4 Months of Life in Relation to Breastmilk and Maternal Plasma Folate.

Background: Human milk is the sole source of folate in exclusively breastfed infants. We investigated whether human milk folate or maternal plasma folate are associated with infants' folate status and postnatal growth in the first 4 months of life.

Methods: Exclusively breastfed infants (n = 120) were recruited at age < 1 month (baseline).

Licochalcone A Inhibits Prostaglandin E by Targeting the MAPK Pathway in LPS Activated Primary Microglia.

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are conditions leading to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Natural compounds exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, such as Licochalcone A, a bioactive flavonoid present in a traditional Chinese herb (licorice), might be beneficial for the treatment of those disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of Licochalcone A in LPS-activated primary rat microglia.

Identification of tumor antigens and immune landscapes for bladder urothelial carcinoma mRNA vaccine.

Background: Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is associated with high mortality and recurrence. Although mRNA-based vaccines are promising treatment strategies for combating multiple solid cancers, their efficacy against BLCA remains unclear. We aimed to identify potential effective antigens of BLCA for the development of mRNA-based vaccines and screen for immune clusters to select appropriate candidates for vaccination.

Performance evaluation of automated white matter hyperintensity segmentation algorithms in a multicenter cohort on cognitive impairment and dementia.

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMH), a biomarker of small vessel disease, are often found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their advanced detection and quantification can be beneficial for research and clinical applications. To investigate WMH in large-scale multicenter studies on cognitive impairment and AD, appropriate automated WMH segmentation algorithms are required. This study aimed to compare the performance of segmentation tools and provide information on their application in multicenter research.

Clinical Impact of Structured Post-Operative Surveillance in Resected Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Results from a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: To this date, surgery remains the only potentially curative approach in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. To analyse the clinical impact of a structured post-operative follow-up programme, we retrospectively analysed a cohort of resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients treated at LMU Munich.

Methods: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients who underwent resection and presented for regular follow-up visits at our centre between 2002 and 2017 were identified from two existing study cohorts.

Role of Polymers in Microfluidic Devices.

Polymers are sustainable and renewable materials that are in high demand due to their excellent properties. Natural and synthetic polymers with high flexibility, good biocompatibility, good degradation rate, and stiffness are widely used for various applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and microfluidic chip fabrication. Indeed, recent advances in microfluidic technology allow the fabrication of polymeric matrix to construct microfluidic scaffolds for tissue engineering and to set up a well-controlled microenvironment for manipulating fluids and particles.

Mechanography in children: pediatric references in postural control.

Objective: To establish pediatric age- and sex-specific references for measuring postural control with a mechanography plate in a single centre, prospective, normative data study.

Methods: 739 children and adolescents (396 male/343 female) aged 4 to 17 years were studied. Each participant completed the following test sequence three times: Romberg, semi-tandem, tandem, each with eyes open and closed, and a one-leg stand with eyes open, and a single two-legged jump.

Effect of shape and size of supraspinatus tears on rotator cuff strain distribution: an in vitro study.

Background: The impact of the size and shape of a supraspinatus tear on the strain of the intact rotator cuff and the kinematics of the shoulder is still unknown. This, however, can be relevant when deciding whether surgical reconstruction is required to prevent an increase in a tendon defect. In this study, the effect of tear width and shape on rotator cuff strain and glenohumeral kinematics was evaluated during active abduction.

Efficacy evaluation of surgery combined with chemotherapy for stage IIIA small cell lung cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

Background: The efficacy of surgery in combination of chemotherapy for stage IIIA small cell lung cancer (IIIA-SCLC) is controversial. The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficacy of surgery combined with chemotherapy, especially in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery for IIIA-SCLC.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2015, we reviewed 2,199 chemotherapy-treated stage IIIA (N1/2) SCLC cases in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and 32 NAC + intentional radical resection-treated, centrally-located IIIA-SCLC cases at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (SPH).

Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients with preexisting antinuclear antibodies: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) predicting the safety and efficacy of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are still a matter of debate considering previous studies showed quite different results based on different ANA cut-off values. Thus, we investigated the associations between different ANA titers and the safety and efficacy of ICIs. Moreover, we also briefly discussed the effects of anti-thyroglobulin (ATG) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) on the safety of ICIs.

Innate immune activation as cofactor in pemphigus disease manifestation.

Molecular mechanisms underlying auto-antibody-induced acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris are subject of current research to date. To decipher the discrepancy between ubiquitous antibody binding to the epidermal desmosomes, but discontinuous disease manifestation, we were able to identify Ultraviolet A (UVA) as a cofactor for acantholysis. UVA induces interleukin (IL)-1 secretion in keratinocytes, mirroring innate immune system activation.

Routine data-based quality indicators for the treatment of gonarthrosis and coxarthrosis patients in the ambulatory care sector - A study protocol for a cluster-randomised pilot trial to evaluate the MobilE-ARTH study.

Background: In 2019, Germany had the highest rate of hip replacement surgery and the fourth highest rate of knee replacement surgery among more than 30 OECD countries. The age-standardised rates were estimated at 174 hip joint and 137 knee joint replacements per 100,000 population. Against this background, the contrast between financial incentives for surgery and missing incentives for non-surgical treatment options is repeatedly discussed.

Attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccination on Social Media: A Cross-Platform Analysis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media content analysis allowed for tracking attitudes toward newly introduced vaccines. However, current evidence is limited to single social media platforms. Our objective was to compare arguments used by anti-vaxxers in the context of COVID-19 vaccines across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

1-Nitrimino-5-azidotetrazole: Extending Energetic Tetrazole Chemistry.

Azide and nitrimino functions are among the most energetic substituents that can be introduced to the skeleton to enhance the energetic properties of a compound. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of a compound that combines both, azide and nitrimino substituents directly attached to one tetrazole scaffold. 1-Nitrimino-5-azidotetrazole is prepared by nitration of 1-amino-5-azidotetrazole.

Technical Design Report for a Carbon-11 Treatment Facility.

Particle therapy relies on the advantageous dose deposition which permits to highly conform the dose to the target and better spare the surrounding healthy tissues and organs at risk with respect to conventional radiotherapy. In the case of treatments with heavier ions (like carbon ions already clinically used), another advantage is the enhanced radiobiological effectiveness due to high linear energy transfer radiation. These particle therapy advantages are unfortunately not thoroughly exploited due to particle range uncertainties.