Efficacy outcomes of CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with endocrine therapy treatment in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer according to PAM50 intrinsic subtype: Primary results of SOLTI-1801 CDK-PREDICT study.

Introduction: The prognostic value of PAM50 intrinsic subtypes (IS), cell cycle, and immune-related gene expression in HR+ /HER2- advanced breast cancer (BC) treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) and endocrine therapy (ET) in a first-line metastatic setting is unclear. This study evaluates these biomarkers in metastatic biopsies from patients diagnosed with HR+ /HER2- advanced BC.

Methods: CDK-PREDICT study is a multicentric, ambispective observational cohort study conducted in six Spanish hospitals.

Benefit and Harms of Radical Nephroureterectomy as Part of a Multimodal Treatment Strategy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients Presenting with Clinical Evidence of Regional Lymph Node Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis by the European Association of Urology Guidelines.

Background And Objective: Given the uncertainty regarding the role of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) as part of a multimodal treatment strategy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients with cN+ disease, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the corresponding literature.

Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, we identified 17 observational comparative and noncomparative studies, published between January 2000 and September 2024, evaluating UTUC patients with cTanyN+M0 disease (P) who received RNU as part of a multimodal treatment strategy (I), as compared with any treatment strategy if applicable (C), to assess oncological or postoperative outcomes (O). Meta-analyses were further performed, as appropriate.

Dry eye disease and morphological changes in the anterior chamber in people with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by variants in a gene that encodes a protein essential for water and ion transport in the epithelial cells of exocrine organs. Given the possible relationship of this protein and conjunctival and corneal epithelium, the aim of this study was to evaluate ophthalmologic alterations in people with CF.

Methods: Forty-five people with CF underwent pulmonary evaluation including inflammatory score (IS).

Morbid Obesity and Liver Transplant.

Background: The progressive increase in the prevalence of morbid obesity (MO) in the general population is a pressing issue. This rise in MO has also been observed in patients with liver disease who are candidates for liver transplantation (LT).

Methods: A retrospective study of a single-center series was conducted to analyze the impact of MO on morbidity, mortality, and patient survival after LT.

Monitoring of the Local Extracellular Environment Using Chiral Gold Nanoparticles.

In three-dimensional (3D)-printed tissue models, sensitive, noninvasive techniques are required to detect changes in hydrogel structure caused by cellular remodeling. We demonstrate herein that circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy provides a reliable method for detecting hydrogel structural variations. We probe directly the plasmonic optical activity of chiral gold nanorods (c-AuNRs) embedded within the hydrogel matrix, in response to variations in the local environment.

Assessing the influence of recurrent urinary tract infections on sexual function: a case-control study.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) significantly impact quality of life and can also lead to changes in sexual function.

Aim: This study aims to assess the symptoms associated with recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) and their influence on both quality of life and sexual activity.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted, involving 383 patients with rUTIs and 161 healthy controls.

Harmonization of alcohol use data and mortality across a multi-national HIV cohort collaboration.

Background: Alcohol use is measured in diverse ways across settings. Harmonization of measures is necessary to assess effects of alcohol use in multi-cohort collaborations, such as studies of people with HIV (PWH).

Methods: Data were combined from 14 HIV cohort studies (nine European, five North American) participating in the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration.

Bioavailability study of OTA, ZEN, and AFB1 along with bioactive compounds from tiger nut beverage and its by-products.

Mycotoxins pose significant health risks due to their prevalence in food products and severe health implications, including carcinogenicity. This study investigates the bioavailability of mycotoxins aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN) individually and combined, in the presence of identified polyphenols from tiger nut beverage (TNB) and tiger nut by-product (TNBP) using the in vitro model Caco-2 cells, which simulates the human intestinal barrier. The objective is to understand how bioactive compounds from TNBP can mitigate the effects of AFB1, OTA and ZEN (and their combination) by bioavailability interference, contributing to safer food products and innovative food safety strategies.

Tailored recovery of antioxidant fractions enriched in caffeine and phenolic compounds from coffee pulp using ethanol-modified supercritical carbon dioxide.

Coffee pulp (CP) is the by-product of coffee processing that urgently needs to be revalorized using sustainable technologies. This work applied a design of experiment (DoE) for modeling the extraction of bioactive compounds from CP using supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO) with ethanol as a co-solvent under variable conditions (temperature, pressure, and ethanol percentage). Considering extraction efficiency (per unit of CP) and extraction selectivity (per unit of extract), results showed that ethanol percentage significantly enhanced the efficiency of total phenolic content, as well as the selectivity of chlorogenic acid and protocatechuic acid (p < 0.

Bench scale Layer-by-Layer microencapasulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1.

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) self-assembly encapsulation is a promising technology for the protection and delivery of lactic acid bacteria. However, laboratory-scale encapsulation is often time-consuming, involves intensive protocols tailored for small-scale operations, requires substantial amounts of energy and water, and results in a low yield of encapsulated biomass. Scaling-up this process to a bench-bioreactor scale is not simply a matter of increasing culture volume as different key parameters (not particularly relevant at lab scale) become critical, including biomass production, the number of polymer layers, and the biomass-to-polymer mass ratio.

Combining antibacterial and wound healing features: Xanthan gum/guar gum 3D-printed scaffold tuned with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin/thymol and Zn.

Biofilm formation on biological and material surfaces represents a heavy health and economic burden for both patient and society. To contrast this phenomenon, medical devices combining antibacterial and pro-wound healing abilities are a promising strategy. In the present work, Xanthan gum/Guar gum (XG/GG)-based scaffolds were tuned with thymol and Zn to obtain wound dressings that combine antibacterial and antibiofilm properties and favour the healing process.

Updated Appropriate Use Criteria for Amyloid and Tau PET: A Report from the Alzheimer's Association and Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Workgroup.

The Alzheimer's Association and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging convened a multidisciplinary workgroup to update appropriate use criteria (AUC) for amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and to develop AUC for tau PET. The workgroup identified key research questions that guided a systematic literature review on clinical amyloid/tau PET. Building on this review, the workgroup developed 17 clinical scenarios in which amyloid or tau PET may be considered.

Efficacy and safety of the PHIL embolic agent in the treatment of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: results of the PHIL-dAVF study.

Background And Purpose: Embolization is the first-line treatment for dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVF). The precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid (PHIL) embolic agent is a non-adhesive copolymer with specific features and endovascular behavior. This study assessed its safety and efficacy in a prospective real-life cohort.

First pass effect in patients with large core infarcts undergoing mechanical thrombectomy: subgroup analysis of the prospective international ASSIST registry.

Background: Studies have described a first pass effect (FPE) where patients with successful recanalization after one pass experience better outcomes. Few studies have evaluated this in patients with large core infarctions.

Objective: To determine whether patients with large core infarcts undergoing mechanical thrombectomy in which first pass reperfusion is achieved experience improved outcomes compared with those who undergo more than one pass.

Artificial intelligence in rheumatology research: what is it good for?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming rheumatology research, with a myriad of studies aiming to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment prediction, while also showing potential capability to optimise the research workflow, improve drug discovery and clinical trials. Machine learning, a key element of discriminative AI, has demonstrated the ability of accurately classifying rheumatic diseases and predicting therapeutic outcomes by using diverse data types, including structured databases, imaging and text. In parallel, generative AI, driven by large language models, is becoming a powerful tool for optimising the research workflow by supporting with content generation, literature review automation and clinical decision support.

Influenza vaccine outcomes: a meta-analysis revealing morbidity benefits amid low infection prevention.

Background: The morbidity and mortality associated with influenza viruses are a significant public health challenge. Annual vaccination against circulating influenza strains reduces hospitalisations and increases survival rates but requires a yearly redesign of vaccines against prevalent subtypes. The complex genetics of influenza viruses with high antigenic drift create an ongoing challenge in vaccine development to address dynamic influenza epidemiology.

Safety of steroids in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

The systemic use of corticosteroids for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) remains controversial in clinical practice, particularly in terms of the safety profile of these drugs. This narrative review aims to analyse the available literature data concerning the safety of short-term steroid use in the treatment of sCAP, while also highlighting potential future research directions. Several trials and meta-analyses have evaluated corticosteroid therapy as an adjuvant treatment for sCAP, yielding heterogeneous results regarding its efficacy and safety.

A Missed Opportunity? Exploring Changes in Influenza Vaccination Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data From 12 Countries Worldwide.

Background: Vaccination is a key measure in influenza control, yet global coverage rates remain low, although previous research reported an increase in influenza vaccination coverage rates (VCR) after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to assess whether these changes were sustained over time by analyzing VCR trends from 2012 to 2023 in the countries included in the FluCov project.

Methods: Data on influenza VCR from 2012 to 2023 for different age and risk groups were extracted from national health organizations and international sources for countries included in the FluCov project.

Comparison of clinical variables and outcome of 2 natural equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy outbreaks induced by equine herpesvirus-1 A2254/N752 strain in sport horses.

Background: Understanding of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is complicated by disparities among studies.

Objective: Compare clinical findings and outcome in horses involved in 2 recent EHM outbreaks.

Animals: Twenty-five and 10 horses affected during 2 natural EHM outbreaks were admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

Modulation of Mitochondria-Endoplasmic Reticulum Contacts (MERCs) by Small Molecules as a New Strategy for Restoring Lipid Metabolism in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease without effective treatment. The progressive motoneuron death in ALS is associated with alterations in lipid metabolism. As its regulation occurs in mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs), modulation of mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) is emerging as a crucial factor in MAM formation and lipid metabolism control.

Clinical Benefit of a Conservative Treatment for High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Lesions in Patients with HIV.

Infection with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shows a higher risk of infection by Human papillomavirus (HPV). We aim to provide evidence about the effect of a -based vaginal gel (Papilocare®) for treating HPV in women with HIV. Women ≥25 years coinfected by endocervical HPV and with low-grade abnormal cervicovaginal cytology were treated for 6 months with Papilocare® in this observational, prospective, non-controlled pilot study.

Benchmarking cross-species single-cell RNA-seq data integration methods: towards a cell type tree of life.

Cross-species single-cell RNA-seq data hold immense potential for unraveling cell type evolution and transferring knowledge between well-explored and less-studied species. However, challenges arise from interspecific genetic variation, batch effects stemming from experimental discrepancies and inherent individual biological differences. Here, we benchmarked nine data-integration methods across 20 species, encompassing 4.

Divergent evolution of opposite base specificity and single-stranded DNA activity in animal and plant AP endonucleases.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonucleases are key enzymes responsible for the repair of base-less nucleotides generated by spontaneous hydrolysis or as DNA repair intermediates. APE1, the major human AP endonuclease, is a druggable target in cancer and its biological function has been extensively studied. However, the molecular features responsible for its substrate specificity are poorly understood.