Repeated 5-aminolevulinic acid mediated sonodynamic therapy using magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound in rat brain tumour models.

Sonodynamic therapy is an emerging therapeutic approach against brain tumours. However, the treatment scheme and ultrasound parameters have yet to be explored for clinical translation. Our study aimed to optimize ultrasound parameters for sonodynamic therapy (SDT) with 5-ALA as a sonosensitizing agent and to evaluate its therapeutic outcome on the rodent 9L gliosarcoma and the human U87 glioblastoma models.

Vulnerable parafoveal microcirculation quadrant in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss among adults. This study evaluates Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) vessel density (VD) as a marker for DR in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. An observational study was conducted with 47 type 2 DM patients and 21 healthy controls.

Xalnesiran with or without an Immunomodulator in Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Xalnesiran, a small interfering RNA molecule that targets a conserved region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome and silences multiple HBV transcripts, may have efficacy, with or without an immunomodulator, in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Methods: We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, randomized, controlled, adaptive, open-label platform trial that included the evaluation of 48 weeks of treatment with xalnesiran at a dose of 100 mg (group 1), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg (group 2), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg plus 150 mg of ruzotolimod (group 3), xalnesiran at a dose of 200 mg plus 180 μg of pegylated interferon alfa-2a (group 4), or a nucleoside or nucleotide analogue (NA) alone (group 5) in participants with chronic HBV infection who had virologic suppression with NA therapy. The primary efficacy end point was hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss (HBsAg level, <0.

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients with COPD Exacerbations: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is considered for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). However, the impact of adding inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to PR on inspiratory muscle function is underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of IMT in addition to PR on inspiratory muscle function, functional exercise capacity (FEC), and quality of life (QoL) in patients with AECOPD.

Associations between tooth loss, denture use, and dementia in older Taiwanese adults.

Background: The literature has mainly focused on the association between tooth loss and dementia, and evidence regarding the separate and joint effects of tooth loss and denture use on the risk of dementia is limited. This study investigated the links among tooth loss, denture use, and dementia risk in Taiwanese adults aged 65 years or older.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey and 2008-2017 National Health Insurance claim records, including the records of 2247 individuals free from dementia treatment in 2008-2009.

Studies on Shielding and Activation Levels in a Concrete-Iron-Concrete Sandwich Structure Wall in the CMUH Proton Therapy Facility.

The shielding performance and activation susceptibility of a sandwich wall in the proton therapy facility of China Medical University Hospital were investigated in an integrated manner using FLUKA Monte Carlo simulations. The 2-m-thick partition wall between two adjoining treatment rooms had a three-layered structure, which comprised a 0.2-m-thick iron layer sandwiched between two layers of 0.

Predictors of hepatic flares after nucleos(t)ide analogue cessation - Results of a global cohort study (RETRACT-B study).

Background & Aims: Flares after nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) cessation are common and potentially harmful. Predictors of flares are required for risk stratification and to guide off-treatment follow-up.

Method: This multicenter cohort study included virally suppressed patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who were hepatitis B e antigen negative at NA cessation.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Thyroid Cancer: An International Multisite Cohort Study.

Concerns have been raised that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but evidence remains conflicting. We therefore investigated if GLP1-RA use, compared with use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), was associated with thyroid cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. This multisite cohort study with subsequent meta-analysis included six population-based databases from Canada (Ontario), Denmark, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Discovery of Potent Dengue Virus NS2B-NS3 Protease Inhibitors Among Glycyrrhizic Acid Conjugates with Amino Acids and Dipeptides Esters.

This study investigated a library of known and novel glycyrrhizic acid (GL) conjugates with amino acids and dipeptide esters, as inhibitors of the DENV NS2B-NS3 protease. We utilized docking algorithms to evaluate the interactions of these GL derivatives with key residues (His51, Asp75, Ser135, and Gly153) within 10 Å of the DENV-2 NS2B-NS3 protease binding pocket (PDB ID: 2FOM). It was found that compounds and exhibited unique binding patterns, forming hydrogen bonds with Asp75, Tyr150, and Gly153.

Ionomeric Nanofibers: A Versatile Platform for Advanced Functional Materials.

The one-dimensional nanomaterials known as nanofibers have remarkable qualities, such as large surface areas, adjustable porosity, and superior mechanical strength. Ionomers, types of polymers, have ionic functional groups that give them special properties, including high mechanical strength, water absorption capacity, and ionic conductivity. Integrating ionomers and nanofibers with diverse materials and advanced methodologies has been shown to improve the mechanical strength, processing capacity, and multifunctional attributes of ionomeric nanofibers.

Prenatal Perfluoroalkyl Substance Exposure in Association with Global Histone Post-Translational Methylation in 2-Year-Old Children.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have elimination half-lives in years in humans and are persistent in the environment. PFASs can cross the placenta and impact fetal development. Exposure to PFASs may lead to adverse effects through epigenetic mechanisms.

Portable SpectroChip-Based Immunoassay Platform for Rapid and Accurate Melamine Quantification in Urine Samples.

Growing concerns about the health risks of melamine adulteration in food products highlight the urgent need for reliable detection methods. However, the long-term effects of chronic low-level melamine exposure remain inadequately explored. This study introduces THE ONE InstantCare platform, a portable immunoassay analyzer integrating a SpectroChip-based spectral processing unit (SPU) with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for sensitive and accurate quantification of melamine in human urine.

Alterations in Gut Microbiota Composition Are Associated with Changes in Emotional Distress in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of the gut microbiota in regulating emotional and behavioral responses via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This study explores associations between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), emotional distress (ED), and gut microbiome alterations before and after OSA treatment. Sixty-six children diagnosed with OSA via polysomnography participated, undergoing adenotonsillectomy alongside routine educational sessions.

Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Pregnant Women Treated with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid) Using Salivary Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: We aim to study the relative viral load using salivary polymerase chain reaction among pregnant women treated with Paxlovid.

Methods: Pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 were allocated to two groups: those receiving Paxlovid and those receiving no antiviral agents. We compared the nasopharyngeal and salivary relative viral loads and their changes in saliva specimens.

Visualizing the Tumor Microenvironment: Molecular Imaging Probes Target Extracellular Matrix, Vascular Networks, and Immunosuppressive Cells.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical factor in cancer progression, driving tumor growth, immune evasion, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. Understanding the dynamic interactions within the TME is essential for advancing cancer management. Molecular imaging provides a non-invasive, real-time, and longitudinal approach to studying the TME, with techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorescence imaging offering complementary strengths, including high sensitivity, spatial resolution, and intraoperative precision.

Iodine-123 Metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-123 MIBG) in Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Review.

Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-123 MIBG) is a crucial radiopharmaceutical widely used in nuclear medicine for its diagnostic capabilities in both cardiology and oncology. This review aims to present a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical applications of I-123 MIBG, focusing on its use in diagnosing and managing various diseases. In cardiology, I-123 MIBG has proven invaluable in assessing cardiac sympathetic innervation, particularly in patients with heart failure, where it provides prognostic information that guides treatment strategies.

Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Activates Mitophagy Through Cargo Receptor and Phagophore Formation.

Chronic HCV infection is a risk factor for end-stage liver disease, leading to a major burden on public health. Mitophagy is a specific form of selective autophagy that eliminates mitochondria to maintain mitochondrial integrity. HCV NS5A is a multifunctional protein that regulates the HCV life cycle and may induce host mitophagy.

Microfluidic Technologies in Advancing Cancer Research.

This review explores the significant role of microfluidic technologies in advancing cancer research, focusing on the below key areas: droplet-based microfluidics, organ-on-chip systems, paper-based microfluidics, electrokinetic chips, and microfluidic chips for the study of immune response. Droplet-based microfluidics allows precise manipulation of cells and three-dimensional microtissues, enabling high-throughput experiments that reveal insights into cancer cell migration, invasion, and drug resistance. Organ-on-chip systems replicate human organs to assess drug efficacy and toxicity, particularly in the liver, heart, kidney, gut, lung, and brain.

Kidney Programming and Hypertension: Linking Prenatal Development to Adulthood.

The complex relationship between kidney disease and hypertension represents a critical area of research, yet less attention has been devoted to exploring how this connection develops early in life. Various environmental factors during pregnancy and lactation can significantly impact kidney development, potentially leading to kidney programming that results in alterations in both structure and function. This early programming can contribute to adverse long-term kidney outcomes, such as hypertension.

Acetylated Globotetraose (Ac-Gb4) Suppresses Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Through FAK/AKT Signaling Pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge due to its unresponsiveness to hormone and HER2-targeted treatments. This study investigated the potential of acetylated globotetraose (Ac-Gb4) as a novel therapeutic approach targeting glycolipid-mediated signaling in breast cancer cells. We synthesized acetylated globotetraose (Gb4) to enhance its membrane permeability while preserving its biological recognition properties.

Exploring the Interplay of Gut Microbiota and Systemic Inflammation in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Its Impact on Blood Pressure Status: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is prevalent among children and is associated with elevated blood pressure (BP), posing a risk for future hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. While the roles of gut microbiota and systemic inflammation in OSAS pathogenesis are recognized in adults and animal models, their impact on pediatric BP remains less understood. This cross-sectional study explored the relationships between polysomnographic parameters, gut microbiota, systemic inflammation, and BP in 60 children with OSAS.

Audiological Features in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

Hearing impairment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has been underestimated for decades. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect both the middle ear (specifically, the incudomalleolar and incudostapedial joints) and inner ear (including the cochlea and acoustic nerve) simultaneously. Despite ongoing research, consensus on effective treatments for hearing impairment in these patients remains elusive.