Evaluation of machine learning models for predicting xerostomia in adults with head and neck cancer during proton and heavy ion radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Few studies have examined the factors associated with xerostomia during proton and carbon ion radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC), which are reported to have fewer toxic effects compared to traditional photon-based radiotherapy. This study aims to evaluate the performance of machine learning approaches in predicting grade 2 + xerostomia in adults with HNC receiving proton and carbon ion radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study involving 1,769 adults with HNC who completed proton or carbon ion radiotherapy was conducted.

Durvalumab with or without bevacizumab with transarterial chemoembolisation in hepatocellular carcinoma (EMERALD-1): a multiregional, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is standard of care for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma that is amenable to embolisation; however, median progression-free survival is still approximately 7 months. We aimed to assess whether adding durvalumab, with or without bevacizumab, might improve progression-free survival.

Methods: In this multiregional, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study (EMERALD-1), adults aged 18 years or older with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma amenable to embolisation, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 at enrolment, and at least one measurable intrahepatic lesion per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) were enrolled at 157 medical sites including research centres and general and specialist hospitals in 18 countries.

A spatiotemporal and machine-learning platform facilitates the manufacturing of hPSC-derived esophageal mucosa.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived tissue engineering offers great promise for designer cell-based personalized therapeutics, but harnessing such potential requires a deeper understanding of tissue-level interactions. We previously developed a cell replacement manufacturing method for ectoderm-derived skin epithelium. However, it remains challenging to manufacture the endoderm-derived esophageal epithelium despite possessing a similar stratified epithelial structure.

RBBP6 anchors pre-mRNA 3' end processing to nuclear speckles for efficient gene expression.

Pre-mRNA 3' processing is an integral step in mRNA biogenesis. However, where this process occurs in the nucleus remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear speckles (NSs), membraneless organelles enriched with splicing factors, are major sites for pre-mRNA 3' processing in human cells.

DNA-binding affinity and specificity determine the phenotypic diversity in BCL11B-related disorders.

BCL11B is a Cys2-His2 zinc-finger (C2H2-ZnF) domain-containing, DNA-binding, transcription factor with established roles in the development of various organs and tissues, primarily the immune and nervous systems. BCL11B germline variants have been associated with a variety of developmental syndromes. However, genotype-phenotype correlations along with pathophysiologic mechanisms of selected variants mostly remain elusive.

Nivolumab combination therapies in patients with advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer: the phase II FRACTION gastric cancer study.

Background: Nivolumab-based therapies are efficacious with acceptable safety in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC). Novel nivolumab-based combination immunotherapies may offer enhanced efficacy in these indications. FRACTION-GC was a signal-seeking, randomized, open-label, phase II adaptive-design trial assessing efficacy and safety of nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab [cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) antibody], relatlimab (lymphocyte-activation gene 3 antibody), or IDO1i (BMS986205, an indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 inhibitor) in patients with unresectable, advanced/metastatic GC/GEJC.

The chain mediating role of social support and coping strategy: Type D personality and psychological distress among Chinese COPD patients.

This study examines how coping strategies and social support mediate the relationship between type D personality and psychological distress in COPD patients. A sample of 351 patients completed surveys on demographics, psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale), social support (Social Support Self-Rating Scale), coping strategies (Chinese version of Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire), and type D personality (Type D Personality Scale). Using structural equation modeling (SEM) via AMOS 23.

Clinical Outcomes With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With FGFR2/3, MTAP or ERBB2 Genomic Alterations in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: FGFR2/3, MTAP and ERBB2 genomic alterations have treatment targets in advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC). These alterations may affect tumor microenvironment and outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in aUC.

Patients And Methods: We identified patients with available genomic data in our multi-institution cohort of patients with aUC treated with ICI.

Predictors of dilation difficulty in gender-affirming vaginoplasty.

A necessary component of postoperative care in gender-affirming vaginoplasty is the dilation of the neovaginal canal. Difficulty with dilation can cause patient pain and distress, often decreasing compliance and leading to partial or complete closure of the neovaginal canal. This study sought to evaluate the sociodemographic, operative, and comorbid characteristics that contribute to patient difficulty with neovaginal dilation.

Bridging the gap: A scoping review of endovascular and microsurgical approaches to anterior ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas.

Introduction: Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVF) are abnormal anastomoses between meningeal arteries and dural venous sinuses. Typically, dAVF treatment involves an endovascular or microsurgical approach. Anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) dAVFs pose unique challenges due to their anatomy and location.

Insulin and myometrial contractility; Are there any links? A narrative review.

Contrary to the evidence supporting the role for insulin in stimulating uterine contraction, only a limited number of studies have highlighted the inhibitory effect of insulin on myometrial contractions in human and rodent. A hypothetical narrative review of the current literature was conducted, revealing the current literature and shows the potential inhibitory effects of insulin on myometrial contractility. These inhibitory mechanisms include activation of adenylyl cyclase signaling pathways, an increase in cAMP production, a decrease in Ca influx and cytosolic Ca, hyperpolarization of the cell membrane, and stimulation of NO synthesis.

Association between diffusion tensor imaging measurements and cognitive performances in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Alterations in structural connectivity of brain networks have been linked to complex cognitive functions in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, a definitive consensus on the optimal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) markers as indicators of cognitive performance remains incomplete and inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the evidence on the correlation between DTI metrics and cognitive functions in PwMS.

Rising cardiovascular mortality among obstructive sleep apnea patients: United States epidemiological trends (1999-2019).

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence has risen significantly, affecting millions globally and posing a major healthcare burden. OSA is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as heart failure, stroke, and ischemic heart disease. However, trends in CVD-related mortality among individuals with OSA remain underexplored.

Impact of resection margin status on recurrence and survival in patients with resectable, borderline resectable, and locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: To improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a complete resection is crucial. However, evidence regarding the impact of microscopically positive surgical margins (R1) on recurrence is conflicting due to varying definitions and limited populations of patients with borderline-resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of the resection margin status on recurrence and survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma stratified by local tumor stage.

The effect of a combined mHealth and community health worker intervention on HIV self-management.

Objective: To identify demographic, social, and clinical factors associated with HIV self-management and evaluate whether the CHAMPS intervention is associated with changes in an individual's HIV self-management.

Method: This study was a secondary data analysis from a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of the CHAMPS, a mHealth intervention with community health worker sessions, on HIV self-management in New York City (NYC) and Birmingham. Group comparisons and linear regression analyses identified demographic, social, and clinical factors associated with HIV self-management.

1-year patency of a novel biorestorative polymeric coronary artery bypass conduit.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) remains the gold standard in the treatment of complex coronary artery disease (CAD). Saphenous vein grafts (SVG) are commonly used for the non-left anterior descending artery (LAD). However, SVG failure rates in CABG surgery have been reported to be as high as 30% at 1 year and ∼50% at 10 years.

Regulation of Dopamine Release by Tonic Activity Patterns in the Striatal Brain Slice.

Voluntary movement, motivation, and reinforcement learning depend on the activity of ventral midbrain neurons, which extend axons to release dopamine (DA) in the striatum. These neurons exhibit two patterns of action potential activity: low-frequency tonic activity that is intrinsically generated and superimposed high-frequency phasic bursts that are driven by synaptic inputs. acute striatal brain preparations are widely employed to study the regulation of evoked DA release but exhibit very different DA release kinetics than recordings.

Do transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks improve pain after laparoscopic bilateral inguinal hernia repairs beyond the recovery unit? A randomized control trial.

Purpose: While surgeons agree that perioperative field blocks should be performed for open inguinal hernia surgery, there lacks consensus in the minimally invasive context. Prior small-scale randomized trials study pain scores only up to 24 h postoperatively. Thus, we sought to investigate the analgesic benefits of a bupivacaine transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in the first 4 postoperative days.

Ovarian cancer staging and follow-up: updated guidelines from the European Society of Urogenital Radiology female pelvic imaging working group.

Objective: To provide up-to-date European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) guidelines for staging and follow-up of patients with ovarian cancer (OC).

Methods: Twenty-one experts, members of the female pelvis imaging ESUR subcommittee from 19 institutions, replied to 2 rounds of questionnaires regarding imaging techniques and structured reporting used for pre-treatment evaluation of OC patients. The results of the survey were presented to the other authors during the group's annual meeting.

Percutaneous hallux fusion with calcaneus bone autograft: a retrospective cohort study of clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Background: In the case of end-stage hallux rigidus, first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint arthrodesis is the gold-standard and is traditionally performed via an open approach. However, complications such as nonunion have been reported to be as high as 30%. Recently, there have been reports demonstrating a percutaneous approach to be effective and safe.