Prognostic significance of peripheral blood biomarkers in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab and ipilimumab-a polish multicenter, observational study.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with the combination of nivolumab (NIVO) and ipilimumab (IPI) showing promising results. However, not all patients benefit from these therapies, emphasizing the need for reliable, easily assessable biomarkers. This multicenter study involved 116 advanced RCC patients treated with NIVO + IPI across nine oncology centers in Poland.

Pharmacokinetics of Nivolumab and Erythropoietin in a Rat Model of Diet-Induced Obesity.

Purpose: To investigate how obesity affects the pharmacokinetics of biologics in a rat model.

Method: Male Long-Evans rats were fed a high-fat diet from the age of 3 weeks and development of obesity was monitored by measuring body size and composition (fat and lean mass). The animals received nivolumab (1 and 8 mg/kg) or recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO, 1000 IU/kg) by intravenous or subcutaneous injection.

Field experiment confirms high macroplastic trapping efficiency of wood jams in a mountain river channel.

Identifying macroplastic deposition hotspots in rivers is essential for planning cleanup efforts and assessing the risks to aquatic life and the aesthetic value of river landscapes. Recent fieldwork in mountain rivers has shown that wood jams retain significantly more macroplastic than other emergent surfaces within river channels. Here, we experimentally verify these findings by tracking the deposition of 64 PET bottles after 52-65 days of transport in the mid-mountain Skawa River (Polish Carpathians) under low to medium flow conditions.

Genetic structure and divergence of marginal populations of black poplar (Populus nigra L.) in Poland.

Genetic diversity is crucial to secure the survival and sustainability of ecosystems. Given anthropogenic pressure, as well as the projected alterations connected with the level and circulation of water, riparian forests are of particular concern. In this paper, we assessed the genetic variation of black poplar - one of the keystone tree species of riverine forests.

Incidence and Outcomes of Secondary Bladder Cancer Following Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: There is an established association between secondary bladder cancers (SBCs) and radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PC), which remains a significant concern. Our aim was to update the evidence on SBC incidence across different RT modalities and to compare oncological outcomes for patients diagnosed with SBC to those diagnosed with primary bladder cancer (PBC).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies on SBC following PC.

Changes in adrenomedullin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with chorioamnionitis in a sheep-based model.

Background: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent angiogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory peptide protecting the developing lung from injury due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) of the preterm infant. At this stage, no data on the potential effects of chorioamnionitis (CA) occurrence and glucocorticoids (GC) administration on AM in developing lungs are still lacking.

Objective: to investigate, in a sheep-based model, the positive/side-effects of combined exposure to CA and GC on AM concentrations measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

Blood circulating LncRNAs: SNHG5 and ZFAS1 as biomarkers reflecting cachexia incidence in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Systemic inflammation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF) across all phenotypes. The continuous release of pro-inflammatory cytokines causes muscle atrophy and adipocyte breakdown, ultimately resulting in cachexia. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as potential biomarkers associated with cachexia, as they indirectly regulate muscle and fat tissue metabolism.

The extracts from Centaurea species abolished the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin on breast cancer cell line - MCF-7 and bortezomib on prostate cancer cell line- PC3.

The use of plant extracts by cancer patients during chemotherapy poses potential risks, as they may reduce the effectiveness of treatment or interact negatively with chemotherapeutic drugs. There is a lack of comprehensive studies evaluating the effects of various Centaurea spp. plant extracts on chemotherapy outcomes, highlighting the need for caution and medical supervision.

Textbook Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing CRS+HIPEC for Peritoneal Surface Malignancies in an Eastern European Population.

Background: The preferred treatment option for patients with limited peritoneal metastasis (PM) is cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC).While the textbook outcome (TO) concept has been applied to other complex surgeries, its prevalence, determinants, and impact in patients with PM remain unclear. This study sought to identify factors influencing TO among individuals with PM undergoing CRS+HIPEC in an Eastern European population.

The role of chronic fatigue in the relationship between maternal self-efficacy, social support, and depressive symptoms in mothers of crying infants.

Background: Social support and maternal self-efficacy are important protective factors against depression. However, the contribution of these variables to postpartum depression in the context of persistent maternal fatigue and prolonged unrestrained infant crying is unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore possible mediating roles of maternal chronic fatigue, infant crying intensity, and frustration as a maternal emotional response to infant crying on the relationship between social support, maternal self-efficacy and maternal depression.

InGaN multiquantum wells-problem of carrier injection.

This study addresses the issue of effective carrier injection to quantum wells in laser diode structures. The nitride light emitting structures used in this study were fabricated by Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE). We developed three distinct sets of samples, with varying quantum barrier thickness, different QWs indium composition and different position relative to the p- and n-sides of the structure.

Melting Temperature Hidden Behind Liquid-Liquid Phase Transition in Glycerol.

Liquid-liquid phase transitions play a pivotal role in various scientific disciplines and technological applications, ranging from biology to materials science and geophysics. Understanding the behavior of materials undergoing these transitions provides valuable insights into complex systems and their dynamic properties. This review explores the implications of liquid-liquid phase transitions, particularly focusing on the transition between low-density liquid (LDL) and high-density liquid (HDL) phases.

Shining a Light on Peptide and Protein Synthesis: Light-Emitting-Diode-Driven Desulfurization of Cysteine to Alanine with Rose Bengal.

Studies presenting visible-light-induced desulfurization of peptides containing a cysteine residue have been carried out. This transformation driven by light-emitting-diode-type light proceeds with high efficiency in an aqueous solution at room temperature and involves the use of a catalytic amount of photosensitizer, Rose Bengal. The procedure has been tested on model synthetic peptides, lysozyme C and α-crystallin, and successfully applied to a one-pot native chemical ligation (NCL)-desulfurization protocol.

New insights on handedness and creativity among artists: Data from New Guinea.

The overrepresentation of left-handers among professional Western artists has been attributed to the lateralization of the human brain, suggesting that left-handed individuals are more creative and more likely to become artists. We aimed to test this notion among a non-industrialized population. We conducted a study in the Asmat region of Papua, renowned for their abundance of wood carving artists.

SSRI is not associated with the intensity of romantic love, obsessive thinking about a loved one, commitment, or sexual frequency in a sample of young adults experiencing romantic love.

For >15 years, researchers have speculated that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use is associated with negative romantic love outcomes. No one has empirically investigated this, however. Drawing on 810 participants from the Romantic Love Survey 2022, we used binary logistic regression to identify differences between young adults experiencing romantic love who were and were not taking SSRIs.

Biotransformation of Ganoderma lucidum and Hericium erinaceus for ex vivo gut-brain axis modulation and mood-related outcomes in humans: CREB/BDNF signaling and microbiota-driven synergies.

Background: The human gut microbiota plays a crucial role in various aspects of health, extending beyond digestion and nutrient absorption. Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) and Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane), traditional medicinal mushrooms, have garnered interest due to their potential to exert positive health effects. The aim of our study was to investigate the molecular impact of Reishi and Lion's Mane on mood regulation through the gut-brain axis.

Cellulose nanocrystal-based synthetic biodegradable biopolymeric composites: A comprehensive review on recent progress.

With the worldwide transformation to a circular and low-carbon economy, the demand for sustainable materials has skyrocketed in recent years. Of various methods, sustainable and biodegradable biopolymers derived from renewable bioresources have received significant interest. Synthetic biodegradable biopolymers offer tremendous advantages over natural biodegradable biopolymers due to their stability, flexibility, and a wide range of achievable properties to fit several applications.

An Overview of Early-Life Gut Microbiota Modulation Strategies.

Background: The gut microbiota, or microbiome, is essential for human health. Early-life factors such as delivery mode, diet, and antibiotic use shape its composition, impacting both short- and long-term health outcomes. Dysbiosis, or alterations in the gut microbiota, is linked to conditions such as allergies, asthma, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.

Effect of intramuscular fat level on carcass composition, physicochemical characteristics, texture, and microstructure of breast muscle of broiler chickens.

This research aimed to determine the effect of intramuscular fat (IMF) levels in m. pectoralis major on carcass weight and composition, meat of male broiler chickens. Whole eviscerated necked carcasses of Ross 308 male broiler chickens aged 42 days were purchased from a commercial poultry slaughterhouse.

Modified field method for testing activated sludge condition in chambers with variable wastewater levels.

The paper presents a proposal to modify a field method of testing the condition of activated sludge using a 30-min volume of sludge (settling test). To verify the validity of the modified method of testing the condition of activated sludge, field tests were performed in two onsite wastewater treatment plants. In these plants, the reaction chambers were fed by gravity from the primary sedimentation tank throughout the day.

Global dissemination of Klebsiella pneumoniae in surface waters: Genomic insights into drug resistance, virulence, and clinical relevance.

The aquatic environment is a major pathway for the spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) among microorganisms. Among these, Klebsiella pneumoniae reveals high genome plasticity, adaptability, and the ability to colonize humans, animals, and the natural environment, awarding it a significant role in the spread of AR. This work presents an in-depth analysis of the whole sequences of 149 K.

Highly stable lithium metal anodes enabled by bimetallic metal-organic frameworks derivatives-modified carbon cloth.

Lithium (Li) metal anodes hold great promise for next-generation secondary batteries with high energy density. Unfortunately, several problems such as Li dendrite growth, low Coulombic efficiency and poor cycle life hinder the commercialization of Li metal anodes. Herein, we design a highly lithiophilic carbon cloth host modified with Sn-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) (ZnSn-CC) directly derived from a bimetallic ZnSn metal-organic framework (ZnSn-MOF), which boosts uniform Li plating/stripping during charge-discharge and effectively protects the Li metal anode.

The application of design of experiments and artificial neural networks in the evaluation of the impact of acidic conditions on cloud point extraction.

This study aimed to analyze the impact of acidic conditions on the recovery of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin for cloud point extraction with the Design of Experiments and Artificial Neural Networks. The design included 27 experiments featuring three repetitions of the central point for both drugs. The tested parameters included Triton X-114 concentration, HCl concentration, NaCl concentration, and incubation temperature, which were coded at five levels.

Usability and Usefulness of a Symptom Management Coaching System for Patients With Cancer Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Comparative Mixed Methods Study.

Background: The prognosis for patients with several types of cancer has substantially improved following the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a novel type of immunotherapy. However, patients may experience symptoms both from the cancer itself and from the medication. A prototype of the eHealth tool Cancer Patients Better Life Experience (CAPABLE) was developed to facilitate symptom management, aimed at patients with melanoma and renal cell carcinoma treated with immunotherapy.