FLASH Radiotherapy: From In Vivo Data to Clinical Translation.

Delivery of radiotherapy (RT) at ultra-high dose rates or FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is an emerging treatment option for patients with cancer that could increase survival outcomes and quality of life. In vivo data across a multitude of normal tissues and associated tumors have been published demonstrating the FLASH effect while bringing attention to the need for additional research. Combination of FLASH-RT with other treatment options including spatially fractionated RT, immunotherapy, and usage in the setting of reirradiation could also provide additional benefit.

Development and Implementation of Digital Health Tools in Radiation Oncology: A Rapid Review.

A rapid review of 21 studies into 20 unique digital health tools found significant benefits to utilizing the following 4 categories of tools: (1) educational videos increased patient knowledge of radiotherapy (RT) and reduced treatment-related anxiety; (2) extended reality tools improved patient understanding of RT and reduced anxiety, with virtual reality coaching enhancing tumor motion reproducibility during CT simulation; (3) digital patient engagement tools helped patients manage treatment symptoms, increased health literacy, and improved quality of life; (4) an electronic feedback form decreased patient anxiety and increased RT knowledge. Most interventions were single-use and implemented before the start of RT.

Neratinib Efficacy in Patients With EGFR Exon 18-Mutant Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Findings From the SUMMIT Basket Trial.

Background: Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene occur in 7% to 23% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A small proportion of these (3-5%) are exon 18 mutations. Neratinib, an irreversible pan-HER tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), had activity in the phase II SUMMIT basket study.

Osteoarthritis-related knee pain: MRI-guided focused ultrasound ablation treatment.

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common cause of pain, functional disability, and reduced quality of life in the elderly. Despite its prevalence, there are limited currently available noninvasive treatment options. MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive thermal ablation method which is used in a spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions.

Pancreas Irradiation for Treatment-Resistant Acute Cellular Rejection in a Severely Immunocompromised Pancreas after Kidney Transplant Recipient - Case Report.

Treating acute rejection of a pancreas transplant in a severely immunocompromised patient with viral opportunistic infection is challenging due to the balance of rescuing from rejection without worsening the morbidity of infection and prolonging the infection episode. We present a case involving a pancreas-after-kidney transplant in a patient with CMV high-risk discordance (donor positive/recipient negative) and chronic lymphopenia who developed difficult-to-treat CMV disease approximately six months after pancreas transplant. Following the withdrawal of the antimetabolite due to the persistent CMV DNAemia and lymphopenia, the patient experienced acute pancreas rejection without adequate and sustained response to treatment with steroids and Thymoglobulin.

A network analysis of clinician-rated posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder symptom clusters in a sample of veterans seeking outpatient treatment.

The presentation of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) differs by substance type. The current study applied network analysis to explore the relationships between diagnostic symptom clusters by examining the strength and direction of unique associations between PTSD and SUD. Network analyses were estimated using a sample of 422 veterans diagnosed with co-occurring PTSD/SUD initiating psychotherapy for PTSD while receiving concurrent outpatient SUD treatment as part of a randomized clinical trial.

Patient and clinical characteristics associated with pain during cesarean delivery: a prospective single-center patient-reported outcome study.

Introduction: There are multiple variables known to be associated with pain during cesarean delivery (PDCD), including patient-related factors, obstetrical and surgical factors, and anesthetic technique. The primary aim of this prospective patient-reported outcome study was to evaluate patient-related factors, including expectations and anxiety, and clinical variables associated with PDCD.

Methods: Patients undergoing cesarean delivery from December 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 were enrolled 24 to 72 hours postoperatively.

Virulent Bacteriophages for Controlling Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) Without Inducing Toxin Production.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections pose a significant public health challenge, characterized by severe complications including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) due to Shiga toxin (Stx) production. Current therapeutic approaches encounter a critical limitation, as conventional antibiotic treatment is contraindicated due to its propensity to trigger bacterial SOS response and subsequently enhance Stx production, which increases the likelihood of developing HUS in antibiotic-treated patients. The lack of effective, safe therapeutic options has created an urgent need for alternative treatment strategies for STEC infections.

Characterization of Clinicopathological Features and Autoantibody Profiles in Patients with Cutaneous Lupus Erythematous: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is an autoimmune condition characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations and limited treatment options. There is little research on the impact of commonly used diagnostic tests including antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) on disease course or responsiveness to treatment.

Objective: This single-center retrospective cohort study aims to address this gap by characterizing clinicopathological characteristics, patient demographics, and treatment response among patients with CLE.

PET imaging of Mn labeled DOTATATE and DOTAJR11.

Manganese-52 is gaining interest as an isotope for PET imaging due to its desirable decay and chemical properties for radiopharmaceutical development. Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) is significantly overexpressed by neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and is an important target for nuclear imaging and therapy. As an agonist, [Ga]Ga-DOTATATE has demonstrated significant internalization upon interaction with receptor ligands, whereas [Ga]Ga-DOTA-JR11(as an antagonist) exhibits limited internalization but better pharmacokinetics and increased tumor uptake.

A data-driven latent variable approach to validating the research domain criteria framework.

Despite the widespread use of the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework in psychiatry and neuroscience, recent studies suggest that the RDoC is insufficiently specific or excessively broad relative to the underlying brain circuitry it seeks to elucidate. To address these concerns, we employ a latent variable approach using bifactor analysis. We examine 84 whole-brain task-based fMRI (tfMRI) activation maps from 19 studies with 6192 participants.

Enhancing elemental release and antibacterial properties of resin-based dental sealants with calcium phosphate, bioactive glass, and polylysine.

Background: This study aimed to develop ion-releasing and antibacterial resin-based dental sealants comprising 3 to 6 wt% monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM, M), 3 to 6 wt% bioactive glass (BAG, B), and 3 to 6 wt% polylysine (PLS, P). The physical properties, mechanical performance, cytotoxicity, and inhibition of S. mutans biofilm by these materials were subsequently evaluated.

The Proimmunomodulatory and Anti-immunomodulatory Effects of Radiotherapy in Oncologic Care.

The abscopal effect in radiotherapy (RT) refers to the phenomenon where localized radiation treatment causes regression of distant, nonirradiated tumors. Although rare, recent research shows that combining radiation with immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, can enhance this effect. The interaction between radiation-induced cell death, immune responses, and the tumor microenvironment manifests in competing biologic mechanisms resulting in complex immunologic outcomes.

Patient, Caregiver, and Provider Well-Being in Oncology.

Addressing various dimensions of well-being can help improve oncology patients' symptoms and their overall quality of life (QOL); similar strategies can be used to support caregivers of oncology patients to improve not only QOL of the caregiver, but the patient. Beyond patient and caregiver support, interventions focusing on dimensions of well-being can improve the culture of wellness, practice efficiency, and enhance personal resilience among oncology providers to mitigate burnout. Herein, the authors discuss multiple evidence-based strategies to improve well-being of oncology patients, caregivers, and providers.

Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity at any Dose Reduces All-Cause Dementia Risk Regardless of Frailty Status.

Objectives: Reaching the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) recommendations of 150 min/wk is difficult for older adults, particularly among those living with frailty and its associated risk of dementia. We examined the dose-response relationship between MVPA and dementia risk among at-risk persons living with and without frailty enrolled in the UK Biobank study.

Design: Survival analysis within a prospective cohort study.

Individualized transfusion decisions to minimize adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and anemia.

Background: Risk-benefit tradeoffs between restrictive versus liberal red blood cell transfusion strategies may vary across individuals. This exploratory analysis aimed to derive and evaluate individualized treatment effects of defined transfusion strategies in patients with acute MI and anemia with the goal of minimizing adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: This study analyzed 3,447 (98.

Longitudinal assessment of white matter alterations in progressive supranuclear palsy variants using diffusion tractography.

Introduction: White matter (WM) tract degeneration is a characteristic feature of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), with longitudinal changes observed in PSP-Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS). Little, however, is known about the other PSP variants. We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal WM degeneration across PSP variants using diffusion tractography.

Site-specific plan-view (S)TEM sample preparation from thin films using a dual-beam FIB-SEM.

To fully evaluate the atomic structure, and associated properties of materials using transmission electron microscopy, examination of samples from three non-collinear orientations is needed. This is particularly challenging for thin films and nanoscale devices built on substrates due to limitations with plan-view sample preparation. In this work, a new method for preparation of high-quality, site-specific, plan-view TEM samples from thin-films grown on substrates, is presented and discussed.

Situating the salience and parietal memory networks in the context of multiple parallel distributed networks using precision functional mapping.

Brain networks serving higher cognitive functions are widely distributed across frontal and posterior association zones. Two exceptions have been the parietal memory network (PMN) and salience network (SAL), which are typically restricted to posterior (e.g.

Ritlecitinib, a JAK3 /TEC inhibitor, modulates the markers of celiac autoimmunity in alopecia areata and vitiligo patients.

Background: Celiac disease (CeD) has shown an association with autoimmune disorders including vitiligo and alopecia areata (AA). Ritlecitinib, a JAK3 and TEC kinase family inhibitor, has been approved for treatment of patients with AA and is in late-stage development for vitiligo. Ritlecitinib inhibits cytotoxic T cells, NK cells, and B cells which play a role in the pathogenesis of CeD.

Upper cervical spinal cord atrophy in MS: Sex, menopause, and neurodegeneration.

Background: Spinal cord (SC) atrophy is a key imaging biomarker of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Progressive MS is more common in men and postmenopausal women.

Objective: Investigate the impact of sex and menopause on SC measurements in persons with MS (pwMS).

Functional variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Background: Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF; a recessive disorder) have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Evidence suggests individuals with a single CFTR variant may also have increased CRC risk.

Methods: Using population-based studies (GECCO, CORECT, CCFR, and ARIC; 53 785 CRC cases and 58 010 controls), we tested for an association between the most common CFTR variant (Phe508del) and CRC risk.

The epitope of the antibody used in the REAADS VWF activity assay is quaternary.

The REAADS VWF activity assay is often assumed to be specific for the A1 domain, the portion of VWF that binds platelet GPIbα. We tested this assay on the A1A2A3 region of VWF with each domain expressed independently of one another and together in combination as a tri-domain. The monoclonal antibody used in this assay is found to be insensitive to the single A domains and does not recognize free A1 domains as it is often assumed.

Estimation of factorial expressions and its improvement through calibration: A replication and extension of Tversky and Kahneman (1973).

Fifty years ago, Tversky and Kahneman (Cognitive Psychology, 5[2], 207-232, 1973) reported that people's speeded estimations of 8 × 7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 were notably higher than their estimations for the equivalent expression in the opposite order, 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × 8 (Median = 2,250 vs. 512, respectively). On top of this order effect, both groups grossly underestimated the correct value (40,320).