Convolutional Neural Networks for the segmentation of hippocampal structures in postmortem MRI scans.

Background: The hippocampus plays a crucial role in memory and is one of the first structures affected by Alzheimer's disease. Postmortem MRI offers a way to quantify the alterations by measuring the atrophy of the inner structures of the hippocampus. Unfortunately, the manual segmentation of hippocampal subregions required to carry out these measures is very time-consuming.

Amivantamab Plus Lazertinib in Patients With EGFR-mutant Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) After Progression on Osimertinib and Platinum-based Chemotherapy: Results From CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A.

Introduction: Treatment options for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with disease progression on/after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy are limited.

Methods: CHRYSALIS-2 Cohort A evaluated amivantamab+lazertinib in patients with EGFR exon 19 deletion- or L858R-mutated NSCLC with disease progression on/after osimertinib and platinum-based chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

A 25 Year Update on the Facial Nerve Sparing Approach for Vestibular Schwannoma.

Background And Objectives: This article aims to report results of our facial nerve preservation approach to treating vestibular schwannomas (VS) at a single institution by a single surgeon performing both microsurgery (MS) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 751 patients at our institution between 1998 and 2023 by intervention received: retrosigmoid microsurgery (MS, Group 1, 217 patients), gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS, Group 2, 462 patients), MS then SRS (Group 3, 72 patients), SRS then MS (Group 4, 10 patients), and SRS then SRS (Group 5, 5 patients). No patients had MS followed by MS.

A Guide to Pathophysiology, Signaling Pathways, and Preclinical Models of Liver Fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is potentially a reversible form of liver disease that evolved from the early stage of liver scarring as a consequence of chronic liver injuries. Recurrent injuries in the liver without any appropriate medication cause the injuries to get intense and deeper, which gradually leads to the progression of irreversible cirrhosis or carcinoma. Unfortunately, there are no approved treatment strategies for reversing hepatic fibrosis, making it one of the significant risk factors for developing advanced liver disorders and liver disease-associated mortality.

Adaptive responses in Cambrian predator and prey highlight the arms race during the rise of animals.

Predation is an important driver of species-level change in modern and fossil ecosystems, often through selection for defensive phenotypes in prey responding to predation pressures over time. Records of changes in shell morphology and injury patterns in biomineralized taxa are ideal for demonstrating such adaptive responses. The rapid increase in diversity and abundance of biomineralizing organisms during the early Cambrian is often attributed to predation and an evolutionary arms race.

Comparative species delimitation of a biological conservation icon.

The United States Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 set a precedent for biodiversity conservation across the globe. A key requirement of protections afforded by the ESA is the accurate delimitation of imperiled species. We present a comparative reference-based taxonomic approach to species delimitation that integrates genomic and morphological data for objectively assessing the distinctiveness of species targeted for protection by governmental agencies.

Glutathione accelerates the cell cycle and cellular reprogramming in plant regeneration.

The plasticity of plant cells underlies their wide capacity to regenerate, with increasing evidence in plants and animals implicating cell-cycle dynamics in cellular reprogramming. To investigate the cell cycle during cellular reprogramming, we developed a comprehensive set of cell-cycle-phase markers in the Arabidopsis root. Using single-cell RNA sequencing profiles and live imaging during regeneration, we found that a subset of cells near an ablation injury dramatically increases division rate by truncating G1 phase.

Associations between maternal plasma concentrations of corticotrophin releasing hormone and the placental transcriptome.

Introduction: The placenta produces corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), which rises exponentially in maternal plasma across pregnancy. CRH plays a functional role in fetal development, labor initiation, and the regulation of gestational length. We aimed to understand how maternal plasma CRH during pregnancy reflects placental physiology during parturition by characterizing placental transcriptomic signatures of maternal plasma CRH and comparing to transcriptomic signatures of gestational age at birth.

Prognostic significance of diastolic wall strain as a predictor of remodeling and poor outcomes in heart failure and pulmonary embolism: A systematic review.

Background: Diastolic wall strain (DWS), also referred to as right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, is a significant predictor of pulmonary embolism (PE) and heart failure (HF). Rooted in linear elastic theory, DWS reflects decreased wall thinning during diastole, indicating reduced left ventricular (LV) compliance and increased diastolic stiffness. Elevated diastolic stiffness is associated with worse outcomes, particularly in PE and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Evaluating the impact of performance status in elderly patients with glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common brain tumor with a poor prognosis. There is a paucity of knowledge regarding optimal treatment approaches for elderly patients with GBM who have a relatively good Karnofsky (KPS) or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. This study compared treatment outcomes in older patients (≥65) with GBM based on their performance status, either high (KPS ≥ 70 and ECOG < 2) or low (KPS < 70 and ECOG ≥ 2), who underwent hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) (40 Gy in 15 fractions) versus conventional fractionation (60 Gy in 30 fractions).

Preventing disease progression in schizophrenia: What are we waiting for.

Despite research advances and progress in health care, schizophrenia remains a debilitating and costly disease. Onset occurs typically during youth and can lead to a relapsing and ultimately chronic course with persistent symptoms and functional impairment if not promptly and properly treated. Consequently, over time, schizophrenia causes substantial distress and disability for patients, their families and accrues to a collective burden to society.

Barriers to early detection: Insurance denials for breast MRI screening in women with germline BRCA1/2 mutations.

Objectives: Women with germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (gBRCA1/2) are recommended to undergo annual breast MRI and mammography. Our objective was to describe the frequency of insurance denials for annual breast MRIs in women with gBRCA1/2 and determine denial trends.

Methods: Women with gBRCA1/2 following in a high-risk breast cancer clinic with breast MRIs ordered from 2020 to 2021 were identified and cross-referenced with a database of insurance denials.

Intraoperative FiO and risk of impaired postoperative oxygenation in lung resection: A propensity score-weighted analysis.

Study Objective: To assess whether, in a lung resection cohort with a low probability of confounding by indication, higher FiO is associated with an increased risk of impaired postoperative oxygenation - a clinical manifestation of lung injury/dysfunction.

Design: Pre-specified registry-based retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Two large academic hospitals in the United States.

Short-term clinical outcomes of subway-related amputations.

Introduction: In city hospitals, subway-related traumatic amputations are a frequent pattern of injury, however there is a paucity of literature on this specific injury pattern. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of subway-related traumatic amputations, as well as compare them to non-subway traumatic amputations.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective review was performed at a single Level-1 trauma center in a metropolitan area.

Effects of acupuncture and foot reflexology on sleep quality in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A clinical trial.

Background: Sleep disturbances are common among individuals with leukemia, and they can significantly impact their overall well-being. Acupuncture and foot reflexology, two alternative therapies rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, have gained recognition for their potential to address sleep issues and alleviate associated symptoms.

Methods: This single blinded, three-groups randomized controlled trial was navigated at Tohid Hospital, involving 132 leukemia patients divided into acupuncture (n = 44), foot reflexology (n = 44), and control (n = 44) groups via random card selection.

Enhancing chemotherapy response prediction via matched colorectal tumor-organoid gene expression analysis and network-based biomarker selection.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents significant challenges in chemotherapy response prediction due to its molecular heterogeneity. Current methods often fail to account for the complexity and variability inherent in individual tumors.

Methods: We developed a novel approach using matched CRC tumor and organoid gene expression data.

Investigation and modeling of land use effects on water quality in two NYC water supply streams.

The paired watershed monitoring approach is widely used to investigate hydrologic processes and water quality, providing streamflow and water quality records for long-term trend analysis, as well as data for developing and testing hydrologic models. In this study we use 20 years of streamflow and water quality data, along with a watershed model, to examine sources of stream nutrients and their changes over time in two small streams within the New York City water supply system. We compare sources and trends in stream nitrate and dissolved phosphorus in the urbanized Amawalk watershed with those of the predominantly forested Boyd Corners watershed in the Croton system of reservoirs.

Real-world evidence for passive video-based cardiac monitoring from smartphones used by patients with a history of AF.

Passive cardiac monitoring has become synonymous with wearable technologies, necessitating patients to incorporate new devices into their daily routines. While this requirement may not be a burden for many, it is a constraint for individuals with chronic diseases who already have their daily routine. In this study, we introduce an innovative technology that harnesses the front-facing camera of smartphones to capture pulsatile signals discreetly when users engage in other activities on their device.

Coronary Intervention Outcomes in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Purpose Of Review: This review assesses the outcomes of coronary interventions in patients with liver cirrhosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), focusing on the clinical challenges posed by cirrhosis-related hemodynamic and coagulopathic changes. It highlights essential considerations for managing these patients, who have an increased risk of adverse events during coronary procedures.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have shown that patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing PCI experience significantly higher mortality rates compared to non-cirrhotic patients, particularly in the context of STEMI and NSTEMI.

Navigating the Economic Burden of Multiple Myeloma: Insights into Cost-effectiveness of CAR-T and Bispecific Antibody Therapies.

Purpose Of Review: Multiple myeloma is a chronic malignancy and with evolving treatment options, understanding the economic burden and cost-effectiveness of therapies is crucial for clinicians and researchers.

Recent Findings: In this, we review the recent approval of Bispecific antibodies and CAR-T for myeloma and their cost implications, including direct and indirect costs. We compare this to current regimens and provide cost comparisons in this review.

Preserved but Un-Sustained Responses to Bids for Dyadic Engagement in School-Age Children with Autism.

Purpose: Dynamic eye-tracking paradigms are an engaging and increasingly used method to study social attention in autism. While prior research has focused primarily on younger populations, there is a need for developmentally appropriate tasks for older children.

Methods: This study introduces a novel eye-tracking task designed to assess school-aged children's attention to speakers involved in conversation.

Treadmill intervention attenuates motor deficit with 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson's disease rat via changes in lipid profiles in brain and muscle.

One of the key hallmarks of Parkinson's disease is the disruption of lipid homeostasis in the brain, which plays a critical role in neuronal membrane integrity and function. Understanding how treadmill training impacts lipid restructuring and its subsequent influence on motor function could provide a basis for developing targeted non-pharmacological interventions for individuals living with early stage of PD. This study aims to investigate the effects of a treadmill training intervention on motor deficits induced by 6-OHDA in rats model of PD.

Characterization of DNA methylation clock algorithms applied to diverse tissue types.

Background: DNA methylation (DNAm) data from human samples has been leveraged to develop "epigenetic clock" algorithms that predict age and other aging-related phenotypes. Some DNAm clocks were trained using DNAm obtained from blood cells, while other clocks were trained using data from diverse tissue/cell types. To assess how DNAm clocks perform across non-blood tissue types, we applied DNAm algorithms to DNAm data generated from 9 different human tissue types.

Traumatic Brain Injury in Intimate Partner Violence.

Purposeof Review: In this article, we explore the current literature on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and evaluate the barriers to studying this vulnerable population.

Recent Findings: Research on TBI and IPV is limited by multiple factors including mistrust of the healthcare system by survivors, lack of awareness by community advocates, and insufficient funding by public entities. As such, most investigations are small population, retrospective, and qualitative.