Advances in Radiation Oncology in Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Purpose: To review recent advances with radiation therapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Recent Findings: Newer data showcases hypofractionated preoperative RT for soft tissue sarcomas treated with surgery to be safe and effective, however, long-term follow up data is pending. Hypofractionated and dose-escalated RT in patients with unresectable STS is also being studied, for which we remain optimistic given advances in RT planning approaches.

Using Transcriptomic Signatures to Elucidate Individual and Mixture Effects of Inorganic Arsenic and Manganese in Human Placental Trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo Cells.

Prenatal exposure to the toxic metal inorganic arsenic (iAs) is associated with adverse pregnancy and fetal growth outcomes. These adverse outcomes are tied to physiological disruptions in the placenta. While iAs co-occurs in the environment with other metals such as manganese (Mn), there is a gap in the knowledge of the effects of metal-mixtures on the placenta.

Are we maintaining minimal residual disease in myeloma?

Minimal residual disease (MRD) has emerged as an important prognostic maker in patients with multiple myeloma at different stages of their treatment. Moreover, it is being increasingly incorporated as an endpoint in various clinical trials. Since maintenance therapy is an integral part of myeloma treatment, especially in the upfront setting post autologous transplantation, it is imperative to understand the role of MRD testing in the maintenance stetting.

Evaluation and comparison of infusion reactions related to prophylactic medication timing for taxane administration.

Introduction: Taxane medications, paclitaxel, and docetaxel, are chemotherapy agents that have a higher incidence of reported hypersensitivity and infusion reactions. To help classify these reactions, the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) is utilized. Prophylactic medications have been used to decrease the incidence and severity of these events.

ROBUST OUTER VOLUME SUBTRACTION WITH DEEP LEARNING GHOSTING DETECTION FOR HIGHLY-ACCELERATED REAL-TIME DYNAMIC MRI.

Real-time dynamic MRI is important for visualizing time-varying processes in several applications, including cardiac imaging, where it enables free-breathing images of the beating heart without ECG gating. However, current real-time MRI techniques commonly face challenges in achieving the required spatio-temporal resolutions due to limited acceleration rates. In this study, we propose a deep learning (DL) technique for improving the estimation of stationary outer-volume signal from shifted time-interleaved undersampling patterns.

Parkin deficiency aggravates inflammation-induced acute lung injury by promoting necroptosis in alveolar type II cells.

Background: Necroptosis is a form of programmed cell death resulting in tissue inflammation due to the release of intracellular contents. Its role and regulatory mechanism in the context of acute lung injury (ALI) are unclear. Parkin (Prkn), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has recently been implicated in the regulation of necroptosis.

Variation in compressive mechanical properties between subacute and chronic venous thrombosis in a novel unilateral iliac thrombosis model.

Interventional therapies to relieve chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) fail through inability to penetrate, cross, and remove the occlusion. Development of suitable tools requires fundamental understanding of chronic DVT mechanical properties and a reliable model for testing. Female farm swine underwent a novel, endovenous generation of long-segment unilateral iliac vein thrombosis.

Palovarotene in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: review and perspective.

Introduction: Palovarotene is a retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist that was studied in phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials for the inhibition of new heterotopic ossification (HO) in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Despite numerous setbacks and regulatory delays, palovarotene is now the first approved FOP treatment in the U.S.

When death is desired: A case of MAiD & the CL psychiatrist.

Objectives: Since physician-assisted dying (PAD) has become a part of the clinical dialogue in the United States (US) and other Western countries, it has spawned controversy in the moral, ethical, and legal realm, with significant cross-country variation. The phenomenon of PAD includes 2 practices: Euthanasia and medical aid in dying (MAiD). Although euthanasia has been allowed in different parts of the world, in the US it is illegal.

Gender and Race Differences in Rates of PTSD Service Connection: Results From a Nationally Representative Panel of OEF/OIF/OND Veterans.

Background: Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), also known as "service connection," have been shown to reduce homelessness and poverty, increase mental health engagement, and improve clinical outcomes. However, gender and race disparities in PTSD service connection have been described in Vietnam and post-Vietnam era Veterans.

Methods: Post-traumatic stress disorder service connection outcomes were assessed in a nationally representative, randomly selected, gender-stratified, prospective panel of 960 Veterans who served during Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn.

Next generation bioelectronic medicine: making the case for non-invasive closed-loop autonomic neuromodulation.

The field of bioelectronic medicine has advanced rapidly from rudimentary electrical therapies to cutting-edge closed-loop systems that integrate real-time physiological monitoring with adaptive neuromodulation. Early innovations, such as cardiac pacemakers and deep brain stimulation, paved the way for these sophisticated technologies. This review traces the historical and technological progression of bioelectronic medicine, culminating in the emerging potential of closed-loop devices for multiple disorders of the brain and body.

Genetic context modulates aging and degeneration in the murine retina.

Background: Age is the principal risk factor for neurodegeneration in both the retina and brain. The retina and brain share many biological properties; thus, insights into retinal aging and degeneration may shed light onto similar processes in the brain. Genetic makeup strongly influences susceptibility to age-related retinal disease.

Population genomics of premature termination codons in cavefish with substantial trait loss.

Loss-of-function alleles are a pertinent source of genetic variation with the potential to contribute to adaptation. Cave-adapted organisms exhibit striking loss of ancestral traits such as eyes and pigment, suggesting that loss-of-function alleles may play an outsized role in these systems. Here, we leverage 141 whole genome sequences to evaluate the evolutionary history and adaptive potential of single nucleotide premature termination codons (PTCs) in Mexican tetra.

Development and Implementation of Automated Referral Triaging System for Spinal Cord Stimulation Procedure in Pain Medicine.

Effective referral triaging enhances patient service outcomes, experience and access to care especially for specialized procedures. This study presents the development and implementation of an automated triaging system to predict patients who would benefit from Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) procedure for their pain management. The proposed triage system aims to improve the triage process by reducing unnecessary appointments before SCS assessment, ensuring appropriate pain management care.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Bose-Einstein condensation of a two-magnon bound state in a spin-1 triangular lattice.

In ordered magnets, the elementary excitations are spin waves (magnons), which obey Bose-Einstein statistics. Similarly to Cooper pairs in superconductors, magnons can be paired into bound states under attractive interactions. The Zeeman coupling to a magnetic field is able to tune the particle density through a quantum critical point, beyond which a 'hidden order' is predicted to exist.

An update on active and passive surveillance for African swine fever in the Dominican Republic.

African swine fever (ASF) is a viral, hemorrhagic disease of swine that is reportable to the World Organisation for Animal Health. Since 2007, ASF has been expanding globally and causing severe disruption to the global swine industry. In 2021, ASF was detected in the Dominican Republic, prompting an emergency response from local and international officials.

Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago.

The timing of the initial dispersal of hominins into Eurasia is unclear. Current evidence indicates hominins were present at Dmanisi, Georgia by 1.8 million years ago (Ma), but other ephemeral traces of hominins across Eurasia predate Dmanisi.

CPT® Codes for MRI Safety - A User's Guide.

The magnetic fields of the MR environment present unique safety challenges. Medical implants and retained foreign bodies can prevent patients from undergoing MR imaging due to interactions between the magnetic fields of the MR environment and the implant or foreign body. These hazards can be addressed through careful MR safety screening and MR examination customization, often allowing these patients with implants to undergo management-altering MR imaging.

Enhancing the interactions of ion-tagged oligonucleotides and magnetic ionic liquid supports for the sequence-specific extraction of hepatitis B virus DNA.

Background: Infections from the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most common types of liver cancer. Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) in human plasma can be used as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing HBV-related liver diseases. The isolation of target ccfDNA sequences is often challenging due to the co-extraction of highly abundant non-target DNA from samples.

Total Knee Arthroplasty Automated Implant Detector: An Uncertainty-Aware Deep Learning Classifier to Identify Total Knee Arthroplasty Implants.

Background: A drastic increase in the volume of primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) performed nationwide will inevitably lead to higher volumes of revision TKAs in which the primary knee implant must be removed. An important step in preoperative planning for revision TKA is implant identification, which is time-consuming and difficult even for experienced surgeons. We sought to develop a deep learning algorithm to automatically identify the most common models of primary TKA implants.

Heat-stable single-helical structures formed during the extrusion process play a key role in the cooking and texture qualities of rice noodles.

Extrusion is a critical process in rice noodle production. However, the underlying mechanism by which it influences noodle quality remains inadequately understood. In this study, rice noodles were processed at extrusion temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 140 °C and characterized in terms of molecular structure, short- and long-range order, microstructure, cooking loss, and texture properties.

Morphologic and immunohistochemical characterization of small and large duct cholangiocarcinomas in a Western cohort: A panel of pCEA, CRP, N-cadherin, and albumin in situ hybridization aids in subclassification.

Two morphologic subtypes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), small duct and large duct, are now recognized, and importantly, these subtypes are associated with distinct molecular pathways and therapeutic options. Initial studies demonstrated the feasibility of morphologic subclassification and helped characterize the immunoprofile of the subtypes. However, few studies have been undertaken in Western countries where incidence of the subtypes is likely distinct from that in the East.

CAR-T cell targeting three receptors on autoreactive B cells for systemic lupus erythematosus therapy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by dysregulated B cell activation, autoantibody production, and nephritis. B cell activating factor (BAFF) overexpression enhances autoreactive B-cell survival, driving autoimmunity. BAFF specific belimumab and CD20 specific rituximab antibodies are used for SLE therapy but are not curative, highlighting the need for alternative B cell depletion therapies.

Transcriptomic response of an algal species (raphidocelis subcapitata) exposed to 22 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of chemicals of concern for both human and environmental health because of their ubiquitous presence in the environment, persistence, and potential toxicological effects. Despite this, ecological hazard data are limited to a small number of PFAS even though there are over 4000 identified PFAS. Traditional toxicity testing will likely be inadequate to generate necessary hazard information for risk assessment.