Physiopathological effects of entrance versus distal spread-out Bragg peak on mouse spinal cord neurons.

Recent investigations into radiation-induced side effects have focused on understanding the physiopathological consequences of irradiation on late-responding tissues like the spinal cord, which can lead to chronic progressive myelopathy. Proton therapy, an advanced radiation treatment, aims to minimize damage to healthy tissues through precise dose deposition. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the variation in dose distribution, characterized by maximum deposition at the end of the proton range, known as the distal fall-off of a spread-out Bragg peak.

Assessing chronic effects of chemical pollution on biodiversity using mean species abundance relationships.

Since chemical pollution poses a persistent threat to freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, innovative methodologies are required to address the ecological risks associated with such pollutants. This study predicts the long-term impacts of chemicals based on an equation that describes the time-dependency of the median lethal and effect concentration (L(E)C50) with the Critical Body Residue concept. This way, the methodology can predict Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSDs) for any given time point.

Postprandial glycaemic response and pain sensitivity in breast cancer survivors suffering from chronic pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled cross-over pilot experiment.

Introduction: The study's primary goal is to investigate differences in postprandial glycaemic response (PPGR) to beverages with varying glycaemic index (i.e. low and medium) between breast cancer survivors (BCS) with chronic pain and healthy pain-free controls (HC).

Maternal microchimeric cell trafficking and its biological consequences depend on the onset of inflammation at the feto-maternal interface.

Microchimerism is defined as the presence of a small population of genetically distinct cells within a host that is derived from another individual. Throughout pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells are known to traffic across the feto-maternal interface and result in maternal and fetal microchimerism, respectively. However, the routes of cell transfer, the molecular signaling as well as the timing in which trafficking takes place are still not completely understood.

Pharmacokinetic exposure and treatment outcomes of lenvatinib in patients with renal cell carcinoma and differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: After initial approval of lenvatinib for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), it has also shown promising outcomes in among others metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Given that trial populations typically do not represent routine clinical care populations, questions arise about how applicable trial outcomes are in clinical practice. This study aims to compare the pharmacokinetics (PK), toxicity patterns, and survival data of lenvatinib in a real-world cohort with DTC and mRCC to those observed in pivotal clinical trials.

Personalized Dynamic Prediction Model for Biopsy Timing in Patients With Prostate Cancer During Active Surveillance.

Importance: Active surveillance (AS) for patients with prostate cancer (PC) often includes fixed repeat prostate biopsies that do not account for the varying risk of reclassification to significant disease. Given the invasive nature and potential complications of biopsies, a personalized approach is needed to balance the burden of biopsies with the risk of missing disease progression.

Objective: To develop and externally validate a dynamic model that predicts an individual's risk of PC reclassification during AS.

In vivo 9.4 Tesla MRI of a patient with drug-resistant epilepsy: Technical report.

Purpose: In resective epilepsy surgery for drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE), good seizure outcome is strongly associated with visualization of an epileptogenic lesion on MRI. Standard clinical MRI (≤ 3 Tesla (T)) may fail to detect subtle lesions. 7T MRI enhances detection and delineation, the potential benefits of increasing field strength to 9.

Feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program during and after treatment of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study.

Purpose: This study evaluates the feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program (CSEP) for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during and after (chemo)radiotherapy, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to identify participation barriers and facilitators.

Methods: To investigate the feasibility of the CSEP, a mixed-method study was performed. For the quantitative part, first, adherence to and safety of the CSEP were considered as quantitative feasibility outcome measures.

An open source convolutional neural network to detect and localize distal radius fractures on plain radiographs.

Purpose: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are often initially assessed by junior doctors under time constraints, with limited supervision, risking significant consequences if missed. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can aid in diagnosing fractures. This study aims to internally and externally validate an open source algorithm for the detection and localization of DRFs.

Evaluation of an e-self-management intervention (Happy Hands app) for hand osteoarthritis: Study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Objective: This protocol paper describes the rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of a 12 week e-self-management intervention (Happy Hands app) in people with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Methods: In this multicentre RCT, 376 people with HOA will be recruited from all four health regions in Norway. Consenting participants will be randomly allocated to either a control group receiving usual care or an intervention group receiving the Happy Hands app in addition to usual care.

Synthetic photorespiratory bypass improves rice productivity by enhancing photosynthesis and nitrogen uptake.

Photorespiration, often considered as a wasteful process, is a key target for bioengineering to improve crop yields. Several photorespiratory bypasses have been designed to efficiently metabolize 2-phosphoglycolate and increase the CO2 concentration in chloroplasts, thereby reducing photorespiration. However, the suppression of primary nitrate assimilation remains an issue when photorespiration is inhibited.

Amelioration of a von Willebrand disease type 2B phenotype in vivo upon treatment with allele-selective siRNAs.

Treatment options for the bleeding disorder von Willebrand disease type 2B (VWD2B) are insufficient and fail to address the negative effects of circulating mutant von Willebrand factor (VWF). The dominant-negative nature of VWD2B makes functionally defective VWF an interesting therapeutic target. Previous in vitro studies have demonstrated the feasibility of allele-selective silencing of mutant VWF using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human VWF gene, an approach that can be applied irrespective of the disease-causing VWF mutation.

Autonomic cardiac control independently predicts incident hypertension and systolic blood pressure in a multi-ethnic population: The HELIUS study.

Aims: Cross-correlation baroreflex sensitivity (xBRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) are measures of autonomic cardiac control and are associated with hypertension. However, their value in predicting new-onset hypertension and changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) remains elusive.

Methods: We used longitudinal data of participants with- and without a history of cardiovascular disease from the HEalthy Life In an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study.

Speech Perception in Noise After Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: There is a lack of high level of evidence studies comparing the effect of different treatment options for single-sided deafness (SSD).

Objective: To determine the effect of a cochlear implant (CI), bone conduction device (BCD), contralateral routing of signals hearing aid (CROS), and no treatment on speech perception in noise outcomes in patients with SSD.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this single-center randomized clinical trial, adult patients with SSD were randomized into 3 groups: CI; a trial period with first a BCD on a headband and then a CROS; or a trial period with first a CROS and then a BCD on a headband.

Change in Metabolic Markers and the Risk of Skin Cancer: Results from the Lifelines Cohort Study in the Netherlands.

Background: Skin-cancers are the most common cancers in Caucasians, and their incidence is rising. Although metabolic and anthropometric markers play a role in cancer development, the relationship of metabolic and anthropometric changes with skin-cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to examine possible associations between these changes and the risk of skin-cancer.

Identification of a metabolic brain network characterizing essential tremor.

The neuronal correlate of tremor genesis and cognitive function in essential tremor (ET) and its modulation by deep brain stimulation (DBS) are poorly understood. To explore the underlying metabolic topography of motor and cognitive symptoms, sixteen ET patients (age 63.6 ± 49.

The ECOLANG Multimodal Corpus of adult-child and adult-adult Language.

Communication comprises a wealth of multimodal signals (e.g., gestures, eye gaze, intonation) in addition to speech and there is a growing interest in the study of multimodal language by psychologists, linguists, neuroscientists and computer scientists.

Association between poor drug adherence and undernutrition among adult HIV patients in southern Ethiopia: an institution based cross sectional study.

Objective: Undernutrition is a common issue for HIV and other immune suppressed patients. Approximately 462 million people worldwide living with HIV are experiencing undernutrition, with sub-Saharan Africa having the highest prevalence. Good adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) indirectly helps prevent undernutrition by suppressing viral load, increasing CD4 count, preventing viral resistance, enhancing immune reconstitution and delaying disease progression in HIV patients.

Patient preferences for drug therapy in inflammatory arthritis: protocol for a living systematic review and evidence map to inform clinical practice guidelines.

Introduction: The pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis often requires choices that involve trade-offs between benefits, risks and other attributes such as administration route, frequency and cost. This living systematic review aims to inform international clinical guidelines on inflammatory arthritis by creating an evidence map of patient preference studies concerning the trade-offs in pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis.

Methods And Analysis: We will include published and peer-reviewed full-text studies in any language that quantitatively assess preferences of patients for the pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis).

Development and external validation of the SMASHERS risk prediction model for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in the general population: a population-based prospective cohort study.

Objectives: Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (ASAH) is a severe stroke type, preventable by screening for intracranial aneurysms followed by treatment in high-risk individuals. We aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model for ASAH in the general population to identify high-risk individuals.

Design: We used the population-based prospective cohort studies of the United Kingdom (UK) Biobank for model development and the Trøndelag Health (HUNT) Study for model validation.

Preferences of pregnant women and obstetric healthcare professionals on using noninvasive prenatal testing to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes: a discrete choice experiment.

Objectives: Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to screen for fetal aneuploidies by analysing cell-free DNA in maternal plasma is available to pregnant women worldwide. In the future, the scope of NIPT could potentially be expanded to the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the preferences of pregnant women and obstetric healthcare professionals on this new test purpose of NIPT.