Effectiveness and Safety of Treatments for Early-Stage Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized and Non-Randomized Studies.

Objective: The lack of consensus on the benefits and harms of standard therapies, including surgery (SRx), radiotherapy (RTx), chemotherapy (CTx), and their combinations among early-stage MCC, prompted this study.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized studies published between January 01, 1972, and January 31, 2023, and having overall survival (OS), local recurrence (LR), regional recurrence (RR), disease-specific survival (DSS), and/or disease-free survival (DFS) as outcomes was conducted using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed (NCBI), Scopus (ELSEVIER), and Web of Science (CLAVIRATE) databases. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their variances were pooled using the inverse variance heterogeneity model.

A Review of Pediatric Appendicitis Imaging Trends from 2006-2020 Using the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample.

Background: Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in the pediatric population, affecting over 70,000 children per year in the United States alone. While historically practitioners predominately used computed tomography (CT) as the main diagnostic imaging modality, multiple professional societies have released guidelines recommending an ultrasound (US) first strategy when using imaging to confirm suspected appendicitis in pediatric populations. To date, no studies have quantified the change in imaging trends for pediatric appendicitis across the spectrum of healthcare facilities in the United States utilizing the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS).

Fentanyl Overdose Causes Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Dysregulation in Male SKH1 Mice.

Fentanyl overdose is a survivable condition that commonly resolves without chronic overt changes in phenotype. While the acute physiological effects of fentanyl overdose, such as opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) and Wooden Chest Syndrome, represent immediate risks of lethality, little is known about longer-term systemic or organ-level impacts for survivors. In this study, we investigated the effects of a single, bolus fentanyl overdose on components of the cardiopulmonary system up to one week post.

Cellular metabolism of substance P produces neurokinin-1 receptor peptide agonists with diminished cyclic AMP signaling.

Substance P (SP) is released from sensory nerves in the arteries and heart. It activates neurokinin-1 receptors (NK1Rs) causing vasodilation, immune modulation, and adverse cardiac remodeling. The hypothesis was tested: SP and SP metabolites activate different second messenger signaling pathways.

Low-Level Respirable Crystalline Silica and Silicosis: Long-Term Follow-Up of Vermont Granite Workers.

The lifetime risk of silicosis associated with low-level occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica remains unclear because most previous radiographic studies included workers with varying exposure concentrations and durations. This study assessed the prevalence of silicosis after lengthy exposure to respirable crystalline silica at levels ≤ 0.10 mg/m.

Association of general anxiety and pediatric dental preventive examination utilization, National Survey of Children's Health, 2021.

Introduction: Many factors influence preventive dental health service access for children. The objective of this research was to examine one factor, general anxiety, in accessing at least one preventive dental examination in the past 12 months in children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) and children without special healthcare needs (CWSHCN).

Methods: National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) 2021 were obtained for this cross-sectional research.

EPR Viscometric Measurements Using a C-Labeled Triarylmethyl Radical in Protein-based Biotherapeutics and Human Synovial Fluids.

The viscosity measurements are of clinical significance for evaluation of the potential pathological conditions of biological lubricants such as synovial fluids of joints, and for formulation and characterization of peptide- and protein-based biotherapeutics. Due to inherent potential therapeutic activity, protein drugs have proven to be one of the most efficient therapeutic agents in treatment of several life-threatening disorders, such as diabetes and autoimmune diseases. However, home-use applications for treating chronic inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, necessitate the development of high-concentration insulin and monoclonal antibodies formulations for patient self-administration.

Resistance training and inter-interindividual response differences on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults: An ancillary meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Examine true inter-individual response differences (IIRD) as a result of resistance training on cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults. Data from a recent meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials representing 552 men and women (292 resistance training, 260 control) ≥ 60 years of age were included. The primary outcome was cardiorespiratory fitness (VO) in mlkgmin.

Fentanyl overdose: Temporal effects and prognostic factors in SKH1 mice.

Fentanyl exposure and overdose are growing concerns in public health and occupational safety. This study aimed to establish parameters of fentanyl lethality in SKH1 mice for future overdose research. Lethality was determined using the up-down procedure, with subjects monitored post-administration using pulse oximetry (5 min) and then whole-body plethysmography (40 min).

Synergistically Stabilizing Zinc Anodes by Molybdenum Dioxide Coating and Tween 80 Electrolyte Additive for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Recently, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have become increasingly attractive as grid-scale energy storage solutions due to their safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, severe dendrite growth, self-corrosion, hydrogen evolution, and irreversible side reactions occurring at Zn anodes often cause poor cyclability of ZIBs. This work develops a synergistic strategy to stabilize the Zn anode by introducing a molybdenum dioxide coating layer on Zn (MoO@Zn) and Tween 80 as an electrolyte additive.

Lysinoalanine cross-linking is a conserved post-translational modification in the spirochete flagellar hook.

Spirochetes cause Lyme disease, leptospirosis, syphilis, and several other human illnesses. Unlike other bacteria, spirochete flagella are enclosed within the periplasmic space where the filaments distort and push the cell body by the action of the flagellar motors. We previously demonstrated that the oral pathogen (Td) and Lyme disease pathogen (Bb) form covalent lysinoalanine (Lal) cross-links between conserved cysteine and lysine residues of the FlgE protein that composes the flagellar hook.

Electron Spin Resonance Probe Incorporation into Bioinks Permits Longitudinal Oxygen Imaging of Bioprinted Constructs.

Purpose: Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing technology analogous to 3D printing. Instead of plastic or resin, cell-laden hydrogels are used to produce a construct of the intended biological structure. Over time, cells transform this construct into a functioning tissue or organ.

Dichorionic Diamniotic Twin Pairs with Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

Complex congenital heart disease (CHD) in each of dichorionic diamniotic (DiDi) twin pairs is extremely rare and has not been well characterized. Four DiDi twin pairs were included in this multi-institutional case series. The congenital cardiac abnormalities noted included tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) with pulmonary atresia and collaterals (n = 1), ToF with absent pulmonary valve (n = 1), ToF (n = 2), discontinuous right pulmonary artery (RPA) (n = 1), tricuspid atresia (TA) with normally related great arteries and pulmonary valve stenosis or atresia (n = 2) and coarctation of aorta (CoA) with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and borderline left-sided structures (n = 1).

SOX71, A Biocompatible Succinyl Derivative of the Triarylmethyl Radical OX071 for In Vivo Quantitative Oxygen Mapping Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a biocompatible oximetric electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin probe with reduced self-relaxation, and sensitivity to oxygen for a higher signal-to-noise ratio and longer relaxation times at high oxygen concentration, compared to the reference spin probe OX071.

Procedures: SOX71 was synthesized by succinylation of the twelve alcohol groups of OX071 spin probe and characterized by EPR at X-Band (9.5 GHz) and at low field (720 MHz).

Toward a Nanoencapsulated EPR Imaging Agent for Clinical Use.

Purpose: Progress toward developing a novel radiocontrast agent for determining pO in tumors in a clinical setting is described. The imaging agent is designed for use with electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI), in which the collision of a paramagnetic probe molecule with molecular oxygen causes a spectroscopic change which can be calibrated to give the real oxygen concentration in the tumor tissue.

Procedures: The imaging agent is based on a nanoscaffold of aluminum hydroxide (boehmite) with sizes from 100 to 200 nm, paramagnetic probe molecule, and encapsulation with a gas permeable, thin (10-20 nm) polymer layer to separate the imaging agent and body environment while still allowing O to interact with the paramagnetic probe.

The matrix microenvironment influences but does not dominate tissue-specific stem cell lineage differentiation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play a pivotal role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with their clinical application often hindered by cell senescence during expansion. Recent studies suggest that MSC-deposited decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) offers a conducive microenvironment that fosters cell proliferation and accentuates stem cell differentiation. However, the ability of this matrix environment to govern lineage differentiation of tissue-specific stem cells remains ambiguous.

In Vivo Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Molecular Profiling of Tumor Microenvironment upon Tumor Progression to Malignancy in an Animal Model of Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Hypoxia and acidosis are recognized tumor microenvironment (TME) biomarkers of cancer progression. Alterations in cancer redox status and metabolism are also associated with elevated levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and interstitial inorganic phosphate (Pi). This study aims to evaluate the capability of these biomarkers to discriminate between stages and inform on a switch to malignancy.

Training doctoral students in critical thinking and experimental design using problem-based learning.

Background: Traditionally, doctoral student education in the biomedical sciences relies on didactic coursework to build a foundation of scientific knowledge and an apprenticeship model of training in the laboratory of an established investigator. Recent recommendations for revision of graduate training include the utilization of graduate student competencies to assess progress and the introduction of novel curricula focused on development of skills, rather than accumulation of facts. Evidence demonstrates that active learning approaches are effective.

Lessons learned from employing Medicaid-funded peer recovery support specialists in residential substance use treatment settings: An exploratory analysis.

Introduction: This article explores the experiences of peer recovery support specialists (PRSS) and their colleagues working in residential adult services (RAS) facilities in a rural state to better understand how the role has been implemented in this setting. In West Virginia, PRSS and RAS services have been covered by Medicaid since 2018 for the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD). Thus, the aim of this study is to uncover what has and has not worked well in the early years of service implementation from the perspectives of both PRSS and their colleagues working in the SUD field.

Asian Intensive Reader of Pneumoconiosis program: examination for certification during 2008-2020.

This study examined physicians' participation and performance in the examinations administered by the Asian Intensive Reader of Pneumoconiosis (AIR Pneumo) program from 2008 to 2020 and compared radiograph readings of physicians who passed with those who failed the examinations. Demography of the participants, participation trends, pass/fail rates, and proficiency scores were summarized; differences in reading the radiographs for pneumoconiosis of physicians who passed the examinations and those who failed were evaluated. By December 2020, 555 physicians from 20 countries had taken certification examinations; the number of participants increased in recent years.

Effects of resistance training on body weight and body composition in older adults: An inter-individual response difference meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Whether true inter-individual response differences (IIRD) occur as a result of resistance training on body weight and body composition in older adults with overweight and obesity is not known. To address this gap, data from a previous meta-analysis representing 587 men and women (333 resistance training, 254 control) ≥ 60 years of age nested in 15 randomized controlled trials of resistance training ≥ 8 weeks were included. Resistance training and control group change outcome standard deviations treated as point estimates for body weight and body composition (percent body fat, fat mass, body mass index in kgm, and lean body mass) were used to calculate true IIRD from each study.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes induce arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase expression and enhance the polarization and function of M1 macrophages .

Fibrogenic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) induce the polarization of M1 and M2 macrophages in mouse lungs. Polarization of the macrophages regulates the production of proinflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators (LMs) to mediate acute inflammation and its resolution in a time-dependent manner. Here we examined the molecular mechanism by which multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs, Mitsui-7) induce M1 polarization .

Sex-dependent variation in cartilage adaptation: from degeneration to regeneration.

Despite acknowledgement in the scientific community of sex-based differences in cartilage biology, the implications for study design remain unclear, with many studies continuing to arbitrarily assign demographics. Clinically, it has been well-established that males and females differ in cartilage degeneration, and accumulating evidence points to the importance of sex differences in the field of cartilage repair. However, a comprehensive review of the mechanisms behind this trend and the influence of sex on cartilage regeneration has not yet been presented.