Acute toxicity and quality of life after margin reduction using a sub-fractionation workflow for stereotactic radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer on a 1.5 Tesla MR-linac.

Background And Purpose: A sub-fractionation workflow to correct for intrafraction motion in localized prostate cancer radiotherapy was implemented at our center, allowing for PTV margin reduction from isotropic 5 mm to 2 mm in cranio-caudal and left-right directions and 3 mm in the anterior-posterior direction. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in acute toxicity before and after margin reduction.

Materials And Methods: Included patients were treated with 36.

Fish functional diversity responses to total phosphorus in the rivers of the Baltic Sea catchment area.

Eutrophication results from nutrient overload in aquatic ecosystems and affects primary productivity patterns, which impacts the living conditions of aquatic organisms. The rivers in the catchment area of the Baltic Sea are greatly affected by eutrophication, but impacts on fish functional diversity are poorly understood. This study, therefore, evaluates the effects of freshwater eutrophication on fish functional diversity in the rivers of the Baltic Sea catchment area.

Functional genomics in age-related macular degeneration: From genetic associations to understanding disease mechanisms.

Genome-wide association studies have been remarkably successful in identifying genetic variants associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), demonstrating a strong genetic component largely driven by common variants. However, progress in translating these genetic findings into a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and new therapies has been slow. Slow progress in this area can be attributed to limited knowledge of the functional impact of AMD-associated non-coding variants on gene function, the molecular mechanisms and cell types underlying disease.

Publicly Available Imaging Datasets for Age-related Macular Degeneration: Evaluation according to the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) Principles.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss among older adults, affecting more than 200 million people worldwide. With no cure currently available and a rapidly increasing prevalence, emerging approaches such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) hold promise for advancing the study of AMD. The effective utilization of AI and ML in AMD research is highly dependent on access to high-quality and reusable clinical data.

Potential causal evidence for an ApoB-independent and HDL-related risk profile associated with coronary artery disease.

Background: Plasma 1-H nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR) metabolomic measures have yielded significant insight into the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic disease, but their interrelated nature complicates causal inference and clinical interpretation. This study aimed to investigate the associations of unrelated H-NMR metabolomic profiles with coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke (ISTR).

Methods: Principal component analysis was performed on 168 H-NMR metabolomic measures in 56,712 unrelated European participants from UK Biobank to retrieve uncorrelated principal components (PCs), which were used in Cox-proportional hazard models.

Exploring Biomarkers of Systemic Oxidative Stress and Placental Insufficiency in Pregnant Women with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often presents during the fertile age and may affect pregnancy outcomes. Both IBD and selected pregnancy complications involve oxidative stress. Soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) serve as biomarkers of placental insufficiency, while free thiols (FT) reflect systemic oxidative stress.

Optimizing ventricular scar characterization in late-gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI Impact of thresholding techniques in magnitude and phase-sensitive reconstructed images.

Background: Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) images, reconstructed using magnitude (MAG) or phase-sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR), differ in signal intensities due to their handling of longitudinal magnetization. These differences influence LGE quantification, which typically uses Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) or standard deviation (n-SD) thresholding when predicting cardiac events.

Objective: This study assessed the impact of FWHM and n-SD on MAG- and PSIR-derived scar characteristics.

Dual-Chamber Leadless Pacemaker Implant Procedure Outcomes: Insights from the AVEIR DR i2i Study.

Background: Initial results were recently reported for the AVEIR DR i2i study which involved the percutaneous implantation of a novel dual-chamber leadless pacemaker (LP) system, with right atrial (RA) and ventricular (RV) LPs delivering atrioventricular synchronous pacing.

Objective: Evaluate procedural outcomes and learning curve for de novo implantation of the dual-chamber LP (AVEIR DR™, Abbott).

Methods: Implant procedure metrics collected during the study were analyzed, including procedural complications within 30 days post-implant.

Long-term Cardiovascular Safety of Ustekinumab in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from an Observational Post-Authorization Safety Study Based on Swedish National Registers.

Background: Evidence on the comparative cardiovascular safety of ustekinumab in psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remains limited.

Objective: To assess risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among PsO and PsA patients treated with ustekinumab compared to those treated with adalimumab, etanercept, or secukinumab in routine clinical practice.

Methods: This new-user, active-comparator, observational cohort study used patient-level data from Swedish national registers, including adult PsO/PsA patients initiating treatment with ustekinumab or a comparator between 2009-2021, with patients assigned to mutually exclusive cohorts.

Association between more plant-based diets and 24-hour urinary creatinine excretion in 98,813 Dutch females and males: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite potential health benefits and environmental gains of more plant-based diets, concerns remain about the quantity and quality of plant-based protein. Sufficient dietary protein is essential to prevent muscle loss and maintain muscle mass. However, evidence regarding the relation between plant-based diets and objectively measured muscle mass is scarce.

Regular-fat and low-fat dairy foods and cardiovascular diseases: Perspectives for future dietary recommendations.

Most current dietary guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) recommend the consumption of low-fat dairy in place of regular-fat dairy foods, one of the main sources of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Here, we summarise the data presented and discussions held - relating to the validity of such recommendations - between a panel of international nutrition research experts at a high-level closed workshop on 'Saturated Fat in Dairy and Cardiovascular Diseases', which took place in Amsterdam on 15-16 April 2024. The most recent evidence indicates that overall, consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese, irrespective of fat content, is neutrally associated with CVD risk.

Clinical standards in angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries: A clinician and patient consensus document.

Patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) or myocardial ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) comprise a relatively large subgroup within those with ischaemic heart disease. Advances in the understanding of disease mechanisms, diagnostic tests and multidisciplinary care are improving awareness of the needs of affected individuals. However, practice variations and suboptimal management promulgate the health burden and increase health care resource consumption.

Non-classical monocytes are associated with functional markers of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Inflammatory conditions such as obesity and diabetes are linked to intermediate/non-classical monocyte activation, contributing to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objective: To investigate whether circulating monocyte subtypes and their activity are associated with the presence LVDD and HFpEF.

Methods: We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 73 patients with or without LVDD/HFpEF.

What do Professionals Think of Specific Care Recommendations for Vascular Cognitive Impairment? A Delphi Study With Health Care Professionals.

Objectives: Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is an umbrella term covering all cognitive impairment from mild cognitive deficits to dementia due to vascular etiologies. VCI is highly prevalent within dementia and stroke care pathways, but specific recommendations for care for people with VCI are lacking. Therefore, we formulated specific recommendations for care for people with VCI and tested these in a panel of health care professionals.

A review of the social and local dynamics in South Africa's water-energy-food nexus.

Socioeconomic and environmental factors significantly shape the availability, accessibility, and affordability of water, energy, and food (WEF) resources in households and communities. In this review, we identify a significant gap in understanding how these factors intersect in the South African context, where inequalities in resource distribution persist. We critically examine the conditions influencing resource availability and explore the conceptual value of the WEF Nexus in guiding decision-making at local levels.

Plasticizer sources and concentrations in indoor environments in Europe: A systematic review of existing data.

We conducted a literature review to gain insight into the European state-of-the-art of plasticizer research in indoor environments. This review focused on indoor plasticizer concentrations in the gas and sorbed phases and source material emissions. We found that indoor plasticizer exposure studies started in the year 2000.

Sodium-glucose co-transporters (SGLT2) inhibitors prevent lipid droplets formation in vascular inflammation or lipid overload by SGLT2-independent mechanism.

Background: The formation of vascular lipid droplets (LDs) induced by vascular inflammation or lipid overload contributes to vascular pathophysiology in diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases, while sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) are beneficial in treating these conditions. Thus, we hypothesized that SGLT2-I would directly modify vascular LDs formation during vascular inflammation or lipid overload, and explored underlying mechanisms.

Methods: LDs formation in isolated murine aorta from wild-type or SGLT2-KO animals was induced by either treatment with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) to induce vascular inflammation or using oleic acid (OA) to mimic lipid overload.

Palliative management of patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer: Clinical presentation, treatment strategies, and overall survival.

Introduction: Locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) occurs in 6-12 % of the patients after curative treatment for primary rectal cancer. Palliative treatment plays a critical role, as over half of the patients are ineligible for curative treatment. However, data on patients treated with palliative intent is limited.

Does the dressing matter in pediatric partial-thickness burns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Superficial partial thickness burns typically receive nonoperative treatment, whereas deep partial thickness burns, which are prone to hypertrophic scarring, are usually managed through debridement followed by autologous split-thickness skin grafting. Various therapies have been developed to prevent wound infection and to enhance wound healing in pediatric partial-thickness burns. However, the choice of dressing by the surgeon can be influenced by various factors.

Rapid analysis of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and cannabidiol in Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol edibles by Ag(I) paper spray mass spectrometry after simple extraction.

Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products are increasingly popular despite uncertainties regarding their legality and safety. Based on the hypothesis that unique double-stage tandem mass spectrometry (MS) and triple-stage tandem mass spectrometry (MS) fragments would allow unambiguous identification of cannabinoids, a simple and rapid method was developed for the differentiation of Δ8-THC, Δ9-THC, and cannabidiol (CBD) within 1 min. This approach combines methanol extraction and silver(I)-impregnated paper spray mass spectrometry (AgPS-MS) for the analysis of Δ8-THC products.

Aging modulates large-scale neural network interactions during speech comprehension.

Speech comprehension in noisy environments constitutes a critical challenge in everyday life and affects people of all ages. This challenging listening situation can be alleviated using semantic context to predict upcoming words (i.e.

Post-COVID microvascular dysfunction in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors is associated with acute disease severity and persistent cognitive complaints.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to have adverse effects on the brain's vasculature in some patients. After recovery of the infection, vascular abnormalities may persist, but it remains unclear which pathological pathways play a role in post-COVID vascular and cognitive dysfunction and may contribute to post-COVID cognitive complaints.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, 108 previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors (general ward: n = 53; intensive care unit (ICU): n = 55) were compared.

Cochlear health in a cohort of cochlear implant users carrying the p.Pro51Ser variant in the COCH gene (DFNA9): A cross-sectional study evaluating the changes in the electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP).

The present study focuses on DFNA9, an autosomal dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the COCH gene. These mutations induce the formation of aggregates that are toxic to the fibrocytes in the extracellular matrix, ultimately leading to degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), which are crucial for transmitting auditory signals from the cochlea to the brain. An important tool for evaluating the function of the SGNs, which are the target cells of a cochlear implant (CI), is the electrically evoked compound action potential (eCAP).