Improved display and detection of small renal stones using photon-counting detector CT compared to conventional energy-integrating detector CT.

Purpose: To compare same-day photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) to conventional energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT) for detection of small renal stones (≤ 3 mm).

Methods: Patients undergoing clinical dual-energy EID-CT for known or suspected stone disease underwent same-day research PCD-CT. Patients with greater than 10 stones and no visible stones under 3 mm were excluded.

The First Multiomics Association Study of Trace Element and Mineral Concentration and RNA Sequencing Profiles in Human Cancers.

Integration of various types of omics data is an important trend in contemporary molecular oncology. In this regard, high-throughput analysis of trace and essential elements in cancer biosamples is an emerging field that has not yet been sufficiently addressed. For the first time, we simultaneously obtained gene expression profiles (RNA sequencing) and essential and trace element profiles (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) for a set of human cancer samples.

Effect of 8-Oxo-1,-Ethenoadenine Derivatives on the Activity of RNA Polymerases from SARS-CoV-2 and .

Bacterial and viral RNA polymerases are promising targets for the development of new transcription inhibitors. One of the potential blockers of RNA synthesis is 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-1,-ethenoadenine (oxo-εA), a synthetic compound that combines two adenine modifications: 8-oxoadenine and 1,-ethenoadenine. In this study, we synthesized oxo-εA triphosphate (oxo-εATP) and showed that it could be incorporated by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 into synthesized RNA opposite template residues A and G in the presence of Mn ions.

Safety, tolerability and therapeutic efficacy of anti-inflammatory drug pirfenidone in acute pancreatitis patients: Protocol for a randomized pilot clinical trial.

Background: Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is a formidable disease with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare expenditure. There is an emergent need to develop therapeutic agents for this disease as there are no targeted therapies available. We have recently demonstrated that pirfenidone can significantly decrease the severity of AP in animal models.

Radiotherapeutics, clonal hematopoiesis, and risk of hematologic malignancies: The good, the bad, the ugly.

While radiotherapeutics have demonstrated significant clinical benefit across multiple cancer types including thyroid cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, and prostate cancer, hematological toxicities can be frequent and challenging. It remains unknown to what extent the hematologic toxicity is driven by clonal processes that preexist and are selected for by treatment induced selection pressures. In this review, we discuss the background leading to the adoption of radiotherapeutics in the treatment of solid tumor malignancies, the risk of hematologic toxicities and myeloid neoplasms and the evidence pointing to potential precursor lesions that may predispose patients to hematologic toxicities.

Elemental partitioning, morpho-physiological effects, genotoxicity, and health risk assessment associated with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) grown in soil contaminated with mining tailings.

This study explored the distribution of macronutrients (Ca, Mg, Na, K) and lithogenic (Ba, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe) and mining-related (As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn) toxic metalloids and metals (TMMs) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and its effects on plant development, productivity, genotoxicity, and human health, using a soil affected by mine tailings (AS) and an unaffected control soil (CS). The chemistry of soils reflected their mineralogy, and Fe-Ti oxides, sulfides and sulfosalts were found to be the most significant reservoirs of TMMs.

Metal-organic framework-based tunable platform for the immobilization of lipase with enhanced activity in non-aqueous systems.

Nowadays, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been emerged as an efficient platform for enzyme immobilization due to their high porosity, tunability, and chemical versatility. In this study, a series of hybrid lipase@NKMOF-101-M (M = Mg, Mn, Zn, Co, or Ni) biocatalysts were constructed through a facile in situ encapsulation method, and the encapsulation and immobilization of lipase in MOFs were carefully validated. The catalytic activity of lipase@NKMOF-101-Mn was 2-fold higher than that of lipase@ZIF-8 and 3-fold higher than that of lipase@MCM-41 due to its excellent dispersibility and hydrophobicity in hexane.

Pediatric-type Myoid Neoplasms of Somatic Soft Tissue: A Clinicopathological and Molecular Genetic Study of 78 Tumors, Highlighting Indolent Clinical Behavior and Frequent SRF Gene Rearrangements.

Soft tissue tumors with smooth muscle differentiation are rare in pediatric patients. Despite often showing morphologic features sufficient for classification as "leiomyosarcoma" in adults (e.g.

Evaluation of an automated assay for eosinophil-derived neurotoxin in serum.

Introduction: Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) is a promising biomarker for eosinophil activation during inflammatory responses. Here we evaluate the analytical performance of an automated fluorescence enzyme immunoassay for EDN in serum and explore its relationship with eosinophil counts in both healthy participants and those with eosinophilic conditions.

Materials And Methods: Paired serum samples were collected from individuals for whom a complete blood count with differential was ordered.

Future directions in the evaluation and management of newly diagnosed metastatic cancer.

There is a much debate regarding optimal selection in patients with metastatic cancer who should undergo local treatment (surgery or radiation treatment) to the primary tumor and/or metastases. Additionally, the optimal treatment of newly diagnosed metastatic cancer is largely unclear. Current prognostication systems to best inform these clinical scenarios are limited, as all metastatic patients are grouped together as having Stage IV disease without further incorporation of patient and disease-specific covariates that significantly impact patient outcomes.

Ethical Challenges in Pediatric Medical Complexity: A Survey of Parents.

Objective: To understand parents' experiences of ethical challenges in the care of children with chronic and serious medical conditions and what resources they access for support.

Study Design: We recruited English-speaking parents of children with complex and serious medical conditions via family advocacy groups to complete an electronic survey from October 2022 through February 2023. We queried respondents' experiences with specific ethical challenges in the care of their child, whether their concerns persisted, and what resources they accessed.

Comparison of cadmium pathways in a high Cd accumulating cultivar versus a low Cd accumulating cultivar of Theobroma cacao L.

Understanding cadmium (Cd) pathways in cacao trees is critical for developing Cd mitigation strategies. This study investigates whether Cd uptake and translocation mechanisms differ between a low and a high Cd-accumulating cacao cultivar. We sampled three replicate trees of each cultivar, and a grafted cultivar that shared the same scion as the low Cd accumulator but had a different rootstock.

Mastering rectal cancer MRI: From foundational concepts to optimal staging.

MRI plays a critical role in the local staging, restaging, surveillance, and risk stratification of patients, ensuring they receive the most tailored therapy. As such, radiologists must be familiar not only with the key MRI findings that influence management decisions but also with the appropriate MRI protocols and structured reporting. Given the complexity of selecting the optimal therapy for each patient-which often requires multidisciplinary discussions-radiologists should be well-versed in relevant treatment strategies and surgical terms, understanding their significance in guiding patient care.

Synthesis of MnFeO-biochar with surficial grafting hydroxyl for the removal of Cd(II)-Pb(II)-Cu(II) pollutants: Competitive adsorption, application prospects and binding orders of functional groups.

A novel biochar material with magnetic modification by MnFeO and surficial hydroxyl grafting (h-MFO-BC) was synthesized for capturing HMs (Cd, Pb and Cu) and their competition in composite systems was investigated. The modification of hydroxyl considerably improved the adsorption capacity of HMs. Chemisorption and monolayer and homogeneous reaction dominated adsorption processes.

Recovered water - HO from the F[FDG] production as liquid radioactive waste.

In this study, ten recovered water samples were analysed using gamma spectrometry and Liquid Scintillation Counting techniques for identification of radioactive impurities (quality and quantity) and for radioactive waste qualifications. The presence of several radioactive isotopes of H, Co Mn in the recovered [O] water irradiated with 11 MeV protons used to produce [F] fluoride by the O(p,n)F reaction has been confirmed. Radioactive impurities were generated directly in enriched water or washed out from activated Havar foil, or tantalum body target material.

Influence of feeding thermally peroxidized lipids on the performance of growing pigs.

Feeding pigs lipids containing high levels of lipid oxidation products (LOP) has been shown to reduce growth performance, but data is lacking on quantitative relationships between LOP and pig growth, feed intake and feed efficiency. Four experiments (EXP) were conducted using soybean oil (SO) in EXP 1, 2, and 3, as well as SO, choice white grease (CWG) and palm oil (PO) in EXP 4, to evaluate the impact of feeding diets containing different amounts of LOP on pig performance. Lipid peroxidation was carried out using variable heating temperatures and durations to generate lipids with a broad range of peroxide (PV, mEq) and anisidine value (AnV, unitless).

Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns.

Background: Gestational exposure to non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. While many EDCs affect the endocrine system, their effects on endocrine-related metabolic pathways remain unclear. This study aims to explore the global metabolome changes associated with EDC biomarkers at delivery.

Prenatal metal(loid) exposure and preterm birth: a systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is a common pregnancy complication associated with significant neonatal morbidity. Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals, including toxic and/or essential metal(loid)s, may contribute to PTB risk.

Objective: We aimed to summarize the epidemiologic evidence of the associations among levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) assessed during the prenatal period and PTB or gestational age at delivery; to assess the quality of the literature and strength of evidence for an effect for each metal; and to provide recommendations for future research.

Selective resection of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus in pituitary surgery: results of a prospective single center analysis.

Purpose: Pituitary adenomas, despite their histologically benign nature, can severely impact patients' quality of life due to hormone hypersecretion. Invasion of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (MWCS) by these tumors complicates surgical outcomes, lowering biochemical remission rates and increasing recurrence. This study aims to share our institutional experience with the selective resection of the MWCS in endoscopic pituitary surgery.

Optical band gap modulation in functionalized chitosan biopolymer hybrids using absorption and derivative spectrum fitting methods: A spectroscopic analysis.

In this study, biopolymer composites based on chitosan (CS) with enhanced optical properties were functionalized using Manganese metal complexes and black tea solution dyes. The results indicate that CS with Mn-complexes can produce polymer hybrids with high absorption, high refractive index and controlled optical band gaps, with a significant reduction from 6.24 eV to 1.

Evaluating physician concordance in interpretation of tracheobronchomalacia diagnosis and phenotyping using dynamic expiratory chest computed tomography.

Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) presents diagnostic challenges due to its nonspecific symptoms and variability in diagnostic methods. This study evaluates physician concordance in TBM diagnosis and phenotyping using chest computed tomography (CT) scans with dynamic expiratory views. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at Mayo Clinic Rochester, analyzing 150 patients with dynamic expiratory CT scans.

Fecal microbiota transplantation to prevent acute graft-versus-host disease: pre-planned interim analysis of donor effect.

Gut microbiota disruptions after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) are associated with increased risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). We designed a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial to test whether healthy-donor fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) early after alloHCT reduces the incidence of severe aGVHD. Here, we report the results from the single-arm run-in phase which identified the best of 3 stool donors for the randomized phase.

Bifunctional poly(1,3-dioxolane)-graphitic CN composite interlayers enable stable and compatible anode interfaces in solid lithium batteries.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) hold great promise in the practical deployment of solid lithium batteries (SLBs) owing to their high voltage stability but suffer from poor stability against Li-metal. Herein, a poly(1,3-dioxolane) (PDOL)-graphitic CN (g-CN, i.e.