Comparative Safety of Istradefylline Among Parkinson Disease Adjunctive Therapies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies.

Introduction: Adjunctive therapies to treat OFF episodes resulting from long-term levodopa treatment in Parkinson disease (PD) are hampered by safety and tolerability issues. Istradefylline offers an alternative mechanism (adenosine A2A receptor antagonist) and therefore potentially improved tolerability.

Methods: A systematic review of PD adjuncts published in 2011 was updated to include randomized controlled trials published from January 1, 2010-April 15, 2019.

Assessing bioaccumulation with biomagnification factors from dietary bioaccumulation tests.

Despite the fact that the UN Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants specifically acknowledges that Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities are particularly at risk due to biomagnification of contaminants in traditional foods, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of substances in fish remains the preferred metric for identifying the biomagnification potential of organic substances. The BCF measures uptake of substances from water in water-breathing organisms, but not biomagnification of contaminants from food sources. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the biomagnification factor (BMF) can be used in bioaccumulation assessments.

Expansion of a conserved architecture drives the evolution of the primate visual cortex.

Human brain evolution is marked by a disproportionate expansion of cortical regions associated with advanced perceptual and cognitive functions. While this expansion is often attributed to the emergence of novel specialized brain areas, modifications to evolutionarily conserved cortical regions also have been linked to species-specific behaviors. Distinguishing between these two evolutionary outcomes has been limited by the ability to make direct comparisons between species.

Data reuse in agricultural genomics research: challenges and recommendations.

The scientific community has long benefited from the opportunities provided by data reuse. Recognizing the need to identify the challenges and bottlenecks to reuse in the agricultural research community and propose solutions for them, the data reuse working group was started within the AgBioData consortium framework. Here, we identify the limitations of data standards, metadata deficiencies, data interoperability, data ownership, data availability, user skill level, resource availability, and equity issues, with a specific focus on agricultural genomics research.

Safety and Efficacy of IV Onasemnogene Abeparvovec for Pediatric Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: The Phase 3b SMART Study.

Background And Objectives: Safety and efficacy of IV onasemnogene abeparvovec has been demonstrated for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) weighing <8.5 kg. SMART was the first clinical trial to evaluate onasemnogene abeparvovec for participants weighing 8.

Efficacy of absorbable vs. non-absorbable patient-specific, 3D-printed implants for the treatment of facial bone fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis compares the efficacy and complication rate of absorbable versus non-absorbable 3D-printed, patient-customized, maxillofacial implants in facial trauma patients.

Data Sources: A comprehensive search of four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane) was conducted.

Methods: A systematic review and single-proportion meta-analysis was conducted employing PRISMA guidelines.

A Review of the Prospera Spinal Cord Stimulation System with Multiphase Stimulation and Proactive Care.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to describe the development and key features of the Prospera™ Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) System, as well as the clinical evidence supporting its use. Prospera delivers therapy using a proprietary multiphase stimulation paradigm and is the first SCS system to offer proactive care through automatic, objective, daily, remote device monitoring and remote programming capabilities.

Recent Findings: Results from the recently published BENEFIT-02 trial support the short-term safety and efficacy of multiphase stimulation in patients with chronic pain.

PARADIGM-PV: a randomized, multicenter phase 4 study to assess the efficacy and safety of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with low- or high-risk polycythemia vera.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by clonal hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells with constitutively active somatic mutation(s) in the Janus kinase 2 gene. Phlebotomy (Phl) and aspirin are often used alone for low-risk PV patients. However, data from the Low-PV study demonstrated that Phl and aspirin may not be adequate for patients.

ZNFX1 functions as a master regulator of epigenetically induced pathogen mimicry and inflammasome signaling in cancer.

DNA methyltransferase and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (DNMTis, PARPis) induce a stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-dependent pathogen mimicry response (PMR) in ovarian and other cancers. Here, we showed that combining DNMTis and PARPis upregulates expression of the nucleic-acid sensor NFX1-type zinc finger-containing 1 protein (ZNFX1). ZNFX1 mediated induction of PMR in mitochondria, serving as a gateway for STING-dependent interferon/inflammasome signaling.

Reducing Cofilin dosage makes embryos resilient to heat stress.

In addition to regulating the actin cytoskeleton, Cofilin also senses and responds to environmental stress. Cofilin can promote cell survival or death depending on context. Yet, many aspects of Cofilin's role in survival need clarification.

Evaluating the impact of media and feed combinations on CHO cell culture performance and monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) production.

Unlabelled: The choice of media and feeds significantly influences the performance of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) mammalian cell cultures in producing desired biologics like monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Sub-optimal nutrient feed/media composition can severely impact cell proliferation and the quality of the final mAb product. For instance, proper protein glycosylation, crucial for mAb stability, safety, and efficacy, heavily relies on cell culture conditions.

Microfluidic Cultures of Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons for Assessing Retrograde Cell Death by Live Imaging.

Neurons are highly polarized cells, with axons that may innervate distant target regions. In the brain, basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) possess extensive axons that project to several target regions such as the cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, and may be exposed to a specific microenvironment in their axon targets that may have retrograde effects on neuronal health. Interestingly, BFCNs express the pan-neurotrophin receptor p75NTR throughout life while also concomitantly co-expressing all Trk receptors, making them capable of responding to both mature and precursor neurotrophins to promote survival or apoptosis, respectively.

Feasibility of real-time fMRI neurofeedback for rehabilitation of reading deficits in aphasia.

Background: Reading impairments, a common consequence of stroke-induced aphasia, significantly hinder life participation, affecting both functional and leisure activities. Traditional post-stroke rehabilitation strategies often show limited generalization beyond trained materials, underscoring the need for novel interventions targeting the underlying neural mechanisms.

Method: This study investigates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback (NFB) intervention for reading deficits associated with stroke and aphasia.

Transportation considerations in underserved patient populations receiving multidisciplinary head and neck cancer care.

Background: Underinsured patients with advanced head and neck cancer experience worse outcomes compared to their well-insured peers.

Methods: Retrospective logistic regression analysis testing associations between demographic, geospatial, transportation, disease, and treatment factors in 50 government insured or uninsured patients receiving curative-intent, multidisciplinary cancer care.

Results: Forty percent of patients missed at least one treatment or surveillance appointment within the first year.

Targeted Delivery of BMS-1166 for Enhanced Breast Cancer Immunotherapy.

Background: Cancer immunotherapy has achieved great success in breast cancer treatment in recent years. The Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) /Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint pathway is among the most studied. BMS-1166, a PD-L1 inhibitor, can interfere with PD-1 and PD-L1 interaction.

An optimized plasmalogen modulating dietary supplement provides greater protection in a male than female mouse model of dilated cardiomyopathy.

We previously reported that plasmalogens, a class of phospholipids, were decreased in a setting of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Plasmalogen levels can be modulated via a dietary supplement called alkylglycerols (AG) which has demonstrated benefits in some disease settings. However, its therapeutic potential in DCM remained unknown.

Diabetes medication prescribing trends based on provider type and location in the United States.

Background: As primary care physician numbers continue to decline, more patients with type 2 diabetes are likely to receive care from advanced practice providers (APPs), including physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Analyzing diabetes medication prescribing trends among these provider types is essential for ensuring evidence-based diabetes care. This retrospective, cross-sectional pilot study aimed to examine differences in type 2 diabetes medication prescribing trends by provider type (physicians vs.

Iris retractor-assisted optic capture of a 3-piece intraocular lens.

Optic capture of a three-piece lens in the absence of posterior capsule support is an effective strategy for stabilizing and sequestering the optic to reduce the risk of dislocation and UGH syndrome compared to sulcus placement. We present a novel technique that facilitates optic capture in the presence of a contracted, fibrotic rhexis opening, while minimizing stress on the zonules by using iris retractors to assist in stabilization and expansion of the rhexis, followed by direct injection of the optic of the lens behind the anterior capsule opening into an optic captured configuration.

Doctors' satisfaction with the rehabilitation system for anti-terrorist operation participants: A factor analysis.

Background: A war has a catastrophic effect on veterans' health. However, there is a knowledge gap about the veterans' rehabilitation system, requirements, and the satisfaction of doctor-organizers. The present study aims to assess the level of satisfaction of the doctor-organizers of health care with the existing rehabilitation system for anti-terrorist operation (ATO) veterans in Ukraine.

Accelerating ASEAN's energy transition in the power sector through cross-border transmission and a net-zero 2050 view.

Faced with energy transition objectives, the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have technology options to decarbonize power sector. This study investigates the hypothetical decarbonization pathways for ASEAN's power sector. Here, we present an integrated power system capacity expansion model for ASEAN over 2018-2050.

Connectivity changes following transcranial alternating current stimulation at 5-Hz: an EEG study.

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at 5-Hz to the right hemisphere can alleviate anxiety symptoms. We aimed to explore the connectivity changes following the treatment. We collected electroencephalography (EEG) data from 24 participants with anxiety disorders before and after the tACS treatment during a single session.

Tracing the change of the volatile compounds of soy sauce at different fermentation times by PTR-TOF-MS, -nose and GC-MS.

Proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS), combined with electronic nose (-nose), was first used to track the change of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soy sauce in this study. The results showed that 163 VOCs with different mass numbers were identified. Based on the differences in VOCs, the entire fermentation cycle was divided into four stages (0D and 15D; 30D-75D; 90D; 105D-120D).

Blockchain Based Secure Federated Learning With Local Differential Privacy and Incentivization.

Interest in supporting Federated Learning (FL) using blockchains has grown significantly in recent years. However, restricting access to the trained models only to actively participating nodes remains a challenge even today. To address this concern, we propose a methodology that incentivizes model parameter sharing in an FL setup under Local Differential Privacy (LDP).

Multicenter analysis of the incidence of in-stent stenosis following the deployment of flow-redirection endoluminal device in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Introduction: The Flow Re-direction Endoluminal Device (FRED) is a novel flow diverter with a unique double stent design, with an inner stent composed of 48 nitinol wires, and an outer stent with 16 nitinol wires. It is designed for endovascular cerebral aneurysm treatment, although, limited data exist regarding in-stent stenosis (ISS) rates associated with FRED devices.

Methods: A registry encompassing two North American comprehensive stroke centers was the base of this study.