Diagnosis of lung cancer using salivary miRNAs expression and clinical characteristics.

Objective: Lung cancer (LC), the primary cause for cancer-related death globally is a diverse illness with various characteristics. Saliva is a readily available biofluid and a rich source of miRNA. It can be collected non-invasively as well as transported and stored easily.

Interferon-Stimulated Genes and Immune Metabolites as Broad-Spectrum Biomarkers for Viral Infections.

The type I interferon (IFN-I) response is a critical component of the immune defense against various viral pathogens, triggering the expression of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). These ISGs encode proteins with diverse antiviral functions, targeting various stages of viral replication and restricting infection spread. Beyond their antiviral functions, ISGs and associated immune metabolites have emerged as promising broad-spectrum biomarkers that can differentiate viral infections from other conditions.

Homocysteine Metabolites, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Cardiovascular Disease.

Atherosclerosis is accompanied by inflammation that underlies cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its vascular manifestations, including acute stroke, myocardial infarction, and peripheral artery disease, the leading causes of morbidity/mortality worldwide. The monolayer of endothelial cells formed on the luminal surface of arteries and veins regulates vascular tone and permeability, which supports vascular homeostasis. Endothelial dysfunction, the first step in the development of atherosclerosis, is caused by mechanical and biochemical factors that disrupt vascular homeostasis and induce inflammation.

Surgical Outcomes and Associated Morbidity of Active and Expectant Management of Second-Trimester Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS).

Management of second-trimester placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is currently center-dependent with minimal evidence-based practices. This study aims to analyze outcomes of hysterectomy as second-trimester active management (AM) versus cesarean hysterectomy as expectant management (EM) in cases of PAS with intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. This study is a retrospective case-control study of patients with a pathology-confirmed diagnosis of PAS managed at a single center over 16 years (2005-2020).

Comprehensive Review of Early and Late Toxicities in CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bispecific Antibody Treatments for Hematologic Malignancies.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (or CAR-T) therapy and bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, offering new options for relapsed or refractory cases. However, these therapies carry risks of early complications, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), and delayed issues like graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, and secondary cancers. Effective management requires early diagnosis using advanced biomarkers and imaging, along with prompt interventions involving immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and cytokine inhibitors.

Echocardiographic Updates in the Assessment of Cardiomyopathy.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to provide an updated overview of the role of echocardiography in the assessment of cardiomyopathies, highlighting recent findings and technological advancements.

Recent Findings: Over the past few years, significant advancements in echocardiographic techniques have improved diagnostic accuracy and provided important prognostic value in the assessment of cardiomyopathies. Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases affecting the heart muscle.

Role of the serum levels of the inter-organs messenger fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) in the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer patients.

FGF21 regulates local and systemic metabolic homeostasis. High serum FGF21 was found in obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and coronary heart disease. The pathways linking obesity and breast cancer remain elusive.

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons guidelines development: patient engagement update to standard operating procedure.

Introduction: The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Guidelines Committee develops evidence-based surgical guidelines. Involvement of patient partners is important to ensure patient concerns and values are adequately addressed and incorporated. This standard operating procedure (SOP) for the process of patient partner involvement within the guidelines is described here.

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.

Safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action of the temporo-masseteric nerve block.

The objective of the study was to assess the utility and safety of Temporo-masseteric Nerve Block (TMNB), and to explore the mechanism for its apparent sustained pain relief. This manuscript describes, (1) a retrospective study evaluating pain reduction in patients who received the TMNB injection for the management of masticatory myogeneous pain (myalgia, per Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD criteria)), and (2) a motor nerve conduction study (NCS) of the temporalis and masseter, performed in the absence of signs or symptoms of TMD, before and after the TMNB injection. The results were as follows.

Orofacial migraine and neurovascular orofacial pain-new insights into characteristics and classification.

Orofacial migraine (OFM) and neurovascular orofacial pain (NVOP) are both recognized as migraine-related entities affecting the facial and orofacial regions, according to the International Classification of Orofacial Pain (ICOP). However, the distinction between these two conditions and the question of whether NVOP should be considered a separate entity remain subjects of ongoing debate. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic characteristics of OFM and NVOP to reassess whether they should continue to be classified as two distinct diagnoses.

New Classification of Periodontal Diseases, the Obstacles Created and Opportunities for Growth.

The purpose of this Editorial is to expose the gaps in the knowledge created by a decision by the World Workshop Consensus Conference (WWCC), held in 2017, which was focused on the re-classification of periodontal diseases [...

Delayed Tooth Development and the Impaired Differentiation of Stem/Progenitor Cells in Incisors from Type 2 Diabetes Mice.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an increased risk of tooth decay caused by alterations in their tooth development and their oral environment, as well as a tendency to present with pulp infection due to compromised immune response. The present study analyzed the characteristic alterations in tooth development under DM conditions using incisors from type 2 diabetic mouse model (T2DM mice). In micro-CT analyses, T2DM mice showed delayed dentin and enamel formation.

Receptor-Interacting Protein Kinase-3 Expression Impacts Ocular Vascular Development and Pathological Neovascularization.

Functional cell death pathways are essential for normal ocular vascular development and tissue homeostasis. As our understanding of necrosis-based cell death pathways has expanded, the inclusion of regulated forms, including necroptosis, ferroptosis, and oxytosis, has occurred. Although the existence of these pathways is well described, our understanding of their role during vascular development and pathological neovascularization is very limited.

A multiplex method for rapidly identifying viral protease inhibitors.

With current treatments addressing only a fraction of pathogens and new viral threats constantly evolving, there is a critical need to expand our existing therapeutic arsenal. To speed the rate of discovery and better prepare against future threats, we establish a high-throughput platform capable of screening compounds against 40 diverse viral proteases simultaneously. This multiplex approach is enabled by using cellular biosensors of viral protease activity combined with DNA-barcoding technology, as well as several design innovations that increase assay sensitivity and correct for plate-to-plate variation.

Heightened innate immune state induced by viral vector leads to enhanced response to challenge and prolongs malaria vaccine protection.

Cytomegalovirus is a promising vaccine vector; however, mechanisms promoting CD4 T cell responses to challenge, by CMV as a vector, are unknown. The ability of MCMV to prolong immunity generated by short-lived malaria vaccine was tested. MCMV provided non-specific protection to challenge with and increased interleukin-12 (IL-12) and CD8α dendritic cell (DC) numbers through prolonged MCMV-dependent interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production.

Single cell RNA-seq reveals that granulosa cells are a target of phthalate toxicity in the ovary.

Phthalates are known endocrine disrupting chemicals and ovarian toxicants that are used widely in consumer products. Phthalates have been shown to exert ovarian toxicity on multiple endpoints, altering transcription of genes responsible for normal ovarian function. However, the molecular mechanisms by which phthalates act on the ovary are not well understood.

Will the Real Immunogens Please Stand Up: Exploiting the Immunogenic Potential of Cryptococcal Cell Antigens in Fungal Vaccine Development.

is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is a continuous global health concern, especially for immunocompromised populations. The World Health Organization recognized as one of four critical fungal pathogens, thus emphasizing the need for increased research efforts and clinical resource expansion. Currently, there are no fungal vaccines available for clinical use.

Hepatocellular carcinoma national burden across different geographical regions in the United States between 2001 and 2020.

Background: While prior data showed an increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States, there are limited comprehensive and comparative data on the geographical variations of HCC trends in different demographic-specific populations.

Aim: To evaluate sex and age-specific incidence rates and time trends in different geographical regions in the United States.

Methods: Age-adjusted HCC incidence rates were collected from the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) database which covers approximately 98% of the population in the United States.

The Staphylococcus aureus non-coding RNA IsrR regulates TCA cycle activity and virulence.

Staphylococcus aureus has evolved mechanisms to cope with low iron (Fe) availability in host tissues. Staphylococcus aureus uses the ferric uptake transcriptional regulator (Fur) to sense titers of cytosolic Fe. Upon Fe depletion, apo-Fur relieves transcriptional repression of genes utilized for Fe uptake.

Brown adipose tissue enhances exercise performance and healthful longevity.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT), a major subtypes of adipose tissues, is known for thermogenesis and promoting healthful longevity. Our hypothesis is that BAT protects against impaired healthful longevity, i.e.

Etiology of panurethral strictures in a low socioeconomic status population.

Introduction: Panurethral strictures represent the most severe form within the anterior urethral stricture spectrum, requiring more technically complex repairs and resulting in poorer outcomes compared to localized anterior urethral strictures (penile or bulbar). This abstract aims to describe the distinct characteristics of patients with panurethral strictures in a low socioeconomic status population.

Methods: Patients presenting with localized anterior (penile or bulbar) or panurethral strictures at University Hospital in Newark, NJ, between 2021 and 2023 were retrospectively identified.

Mertk signaling and immune regulation in T cells.

While widely viewed as inhibitory receptors that drive efferocytosis and immune resolution on myeloid cells, TAM family members, particularly Mertk, have emerged as promising targets in immune-oncology to help stimulate host antitumor immunity. A recent study shows that Mertk expressed on human T cells, including CD8+ T cells and differentiated central memory T cells, has a co-stimulatory function for the T Cell Receptor. These new findings reveal the complexity and diversification of Mertk in immune regulation and its implications to cancer therapeutics.