Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer: Simple is Better… Less is More.

A significant number of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) benefit from adjuvant therapy. While 6 months of FOLFOX is standard of care, newer regimens like CAPOX and SOX allow for shorter durations. Trials of importance include SCOT (U.

From Foreshock 30-Second Waves to Magnetospheric Pc3 Waves.

Ultra-low frequency waves, with periods between 1-1000 s, are ubiquitous in the near-Earth plasma environment and play an important role in magnetospheric dynamics and in the transfer of electromagnetic energy from the solar wind to the magnetosphere. A class of those waves, often referred to as Pc3 waves when they are recorded from the ground, with periods between 10 and 45 s, are routinely observed in the dayside magnetosphere. They originate from the ion foreshock, a region of geospace extending upstream of the quasi-parallel portion of Earth's bow shock.

Correction to: Why nature matters: A systematic review of intrinsic, instrumental, and relational values.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biad109.].

Infective Endocarditis Caused by Non-HACEK Gram-Negative Bacteria, a Registry-Based Comparative Study.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by non-HACEK gram-negative bacteria (nHGNB) is uncommon. In the 2023 Duke-ISCVID diagnostic criteria, and were added as "typical" pathogens. We examine the consequences of this addition, the risk of IE in bacteremia from nHGNB species, and the features of IE caused by nHGNB.

National trends of wrist arthroscopy in Italy: Analysis from 2001 to 2016.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the demographic features of patients undergoing wrist arthroscopy in Italy. A secondary aim was to perform an economic analysis of this type of surgery.

Methods: The National Hospital Discharge Records database was employed to conduct the analysis.

The Battleship technique: A reliable method to quantify intraarticular distance maps patterns and correlate hindfoot alignment.

Purpose: Weight-bearing computed tomography (WBCT) creates colour-coded distance maps (DM) to analyze intraarticular contact areas, offering a detailed assessment of joint surface interactions. However, clinical applications of DM remain underexplored. This study introduces the 'Battleship technique (BST)' to evaluate contact area patterns in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the talar dome, producing a single point representing the distance map weighted sum (DMWS).

Single-stage ACL reconstruction and displaced bucket handle Meniscus repair is associated with lower Meniscus repair failure rates compared to two-stage surgery.

Purpose: To compare displaced bucket-handle meniscus repair (BHMR) failure rates, subjective and objective knee function after BHMR in the setting of ACLR performed as a single-or two-stage procedure, and assess factors associated with BHMR survival.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent surgery between February 2015 and December 2021 at one institution. Patients with a displaced bucket-handle meniscus tear (BHMT) and ACL-injury undergoing BHMR and ACLR as a single- (concomitant BHMR and ACLR) or two-stage (BHMR and subsequent ACLR) procedure were identified.

γδ T cell characterisation in the long term after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and its impact on CMV control and cGVHD severity.

Objectives: The clinical outcome after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHCT) relies greatly on the efficient recovery of T cells. Several studies have investigated the short-term γδ T cell reconstitution and their role in clinical outcomes following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Nevertheless, their long-term characteristics and impact have remained largely unknown.

What is the role of paternal genetic transmission on risk for PTSD and internalizing and externalizing disorders?

Background: We utilize a novel contrastive genetic-epidemiological method, the Maternal Half-Sibling Families with Discordant Fathers (MHSFDF) design, to examine cross-generational genetic transmission of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related internalizing major depression (MD), and externalizing disorders: alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug use disorder (DUD).

Methods: Using Swedish national registries, we identified 72,467 maternal half-sibling pairs reared together whose biological fathers were discordant for the diagnoses of PTSD, MD, AUD, and DUD. Offspring selected had to have less than 1 year of contact with their affected fathers.

Understanding zoonotic pathogens and risk factors from wildlife in Southeast Asia: a systematic literature review.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the significance of the human-animal interface in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, with wildlife serving as an important source of infection. A better understanding of the specific pathogens and mechanisms involved is vital to prepare against future outbreaks, especially in Southeast Asia, a hotspot for zoonotic diseases. This paper reviews the published literature on wildlife zoonoses in this region from 2012 to 2022.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Symptom Profiles of Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in Obesity Before and After Treatment.

Background & Aims: Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) in obesity could impair health outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to study the prevalence and burden of symptoms compatible with a DGBI in obesity and assess the effect of obesity treatment on comorbid DGBI.

Methods: We used baseline and two-year follow-up data from a prospective non-randomized cohort study including patients with obesity referred for obesity treatment.

Impact of health literacy and general self-efficacy on surgical outcomes 2 years after bariatric surgery.

After bariatric surgery, adherence to lifestyle recommendations is crucial. Health literacy and self-efficacy may impact recovery after surgery. In this multicentre study performed in three hospitals in Sweden, we evaluated any relation between preoperative health literacy and general self-efficacy on the one side and weight loss, health-related quality of life, length of stay, and complications up to 2 years after bariatric surgery on the other.

Toughened Interface by Engineering the Side Group of Conjugated Polymers to Stabilize Flexible Perovskite Solar Modules.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted considerable attention due to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE), cost-effective manufacturing processes, as well as the potential flexibility. However, a significant challenge to the commercial applications of PSCs is their mechanical reliability. In this work, three naphthalene diimide polymers with distinct donor units are chosen to reduce surface trap states and enhance the long-term stability and mechanical reliability of photovoltaic devices.

Miniaturized Iontronic Micropipettes for Precise and Dynamic Ionic Modulation of Neuronal and Astrocytic Activity.

The composition of the extracellular milieu can vary significantly under physiological and pathological conditions, thereby altering the functional set point of brain cells. While global changes in the extracellular milieu are known to affect network activity, a detailed understanding of how specific changes in ion species impact individual cells remains elusive. Current modulation methods involve the use of diluted salts, such as KCl, where lack of precise control complicates data interpretation.

Attojoule Superconducting Thermal Logic and Memories.

Due to stringent thermal budgets in cryogenic technologies such as superconducting quantum computers and sensors, electronic building blocks that simultaneously offer low energy consumption, fast switching, low error rates, a small footprint, and simple fabrication are pivotal for large-scale devices. Here, we demonstrate a superconducting switch with attojoule switching energy, high speed (pico-second rise/fall times), and high integration density (on the order of 10 μm per switch). It consists of a superconducting nanochannel and a metal heater separated by an insulating silica layer.

Ru-Doped Fe₂TiO₅ as a High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Urea-Assisted Water Splitting.

The urea oxidation reaction (UOR), with its low thermodynamic potential, offers a promising alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for efficient hydrogen production. However, its sluggish kinetics still demand the development of an efficient electrocatalyst. In this study, the critical role of Ru doping in Fe₂TiO₅ is demonstrated to accelerate UOR kinetics.

A Spline-Based Approach to Smoothly Constrain Hazard Ratios With a View to Apply Treatment Effect Waning.

Objectives: To describe and assess, via simulation, a constraint-based spline approach to implement smooth hazard ratio (HR) waning in time-to-event analyses.

Methods: A common consideration when extrapolating survival functions to evaluate the long-term performance of a novel intervention is scenarios where the beneficial effect of an intervention eventually disappears (treatment effect waning). One approach to relaxing the proportional hazards assumption for a treatment effect is to model it as a function of the timescale, with a spline function offering a flexible approach.

Clinical photon-counting CT increases CT number precision and reduces patient size dependence compared to single- and dual- energy CT.

Objectives: To study whether photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) can improve CT number accuracy, precision and reduce patient size dependence compared to dual-energy CT (DECT) virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) and single-energy CT (SECT).

Methods: Clinical PCCT, DECT and SECT scanners were used to image a multi-energy quality assurance phantom and tissue-equivalent inserts with/without an outer nested annulus, representing two object sizes (18 and 33 cm). CT numbers were converted to linear attenuation coefficients (LAC) and regions-of-interest applied.

Renal-clearable and tumor-retained nanodots overcoming metabolic reprogramming to boost mitochondrial-targeted photodynamic therapy in triple-negative breast cancer.

Background: Targeting tumor metabolism reprogramming has demonstrated a synergistic antitumor effect in photodynamic therapy of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, such a combination therapeutic regimen has encountered challenges, such as limited photosensitizer bioavailability and severe drug toxicity.

Methods And Results: Herein, ultrasmall metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) nanodots (MSPC) that encapsulate metabolism inhibitors and mitochondria-targeted photosensitizers are designed and fabricated for synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT) of TNBC.

Relational information framework, causality, unification of quantum interpretations and return to realism through non-ergodicity.

In the framework of relational information, we explore analogs of physical theories and their properties. Specifically, we investigate the causal characteristics of relational information, examining how initial knowledge impacts future relational understanding of the universe/system. To achieve this, we establish a parameter space defining relational structures called dendrograms, exhibiting causal properties akin to those of Minkowski metric.

Quality of prescribing and health-related quality of life in older adults: a narrative review with a special focus on patients with atrial fibrillation and multimorbidity.

Purpose: To summarise the association between potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults, with a special focus on those with atrial fibrillation (AF) and multimorbidity, while exploring potential interventions to improve prescribing quality and their impact on HRQOL.

Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was conducted in MEDLINE using the PubMed interface on August 16th, 2024, focusing on key terms related to "potentially inappropriate prescribing" and "quality of life". Additionally, the reference lists of included studies were screened.

Effectiveness of the XBB.1.5 COVID-19 Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2 Hospitalisation Among Adults Aged ≥ 65 Years During the BA.2.86/JN.1 Predominant Period, VEBIS Hospital Study, Europe, November 2023 to May 2024.

We estimated the effectiveness of the adapted monovalent XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines against PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 hospitalisation during the BA.

Enhancing clinical safety in radiation oncology: A data-driven approach to risk management.

Purpose: To demonstrate a data-driven risk management (RM) strategy in radiation oncology using an in-house developed web-based incident reporting system. The system leverages real-time analytics to enhance clinical risk prioritization and management, improving patient safety and treatment efficiency.

Methods: We developed and implemented a web-based incident reporting system that allows any staff member to report incidents in real time, supporting anonymous submissions and capturing detailed incident data.

New pharmacological agents and novel cardiovascular pharmacotherapy strategies in 2024.

Despite substantial advances in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and devices in recent years, prevention and treatment of many cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain limited, thus reflecting the need for more effective and safer pharmacological strategies. In this review, we summarize the most relevant studies in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in 2024, including the approval of first-in-class drugs for the treatment of resistant hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension, label expansions for bempedoic acid and semaglutide, and the results of major randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that have met the prespecified primary endpoints, thereby filling some gaps in knowledge and opening new perspectives in the management of CVD, and those RCTs whose results did not confirm the proposed research hypotheses. We also include a section on drug safety, where we describe the newest data on adverse reactions and drug-drug interactions that may complicate treatment and/or reduce drug adherence with the consequent decrease in drug effectiveness.