Peripheral oxygen saturation levels as a guide to avoid hyperoxia: an observational study.

Background: As iatrogenic hyperoxia has been related to adverse outcomes in critically ill patients, guidelines advise to titrate oxygen to physiological levels. In the prehospital setting where partial arterial oxygen (PaO) values are often not readily available, titration of oxygen is based on peripheral oxygen saturations (SpO2). In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy of SpO guided oxygen titration in the prevention of hyperoxia.

Multi-omics analysis in inclusion body myositis identifies mir-16 responsible for HLA overexpression.

Background: Inclusion Body Myositis is an acquired muscle disease. Its pathogenesis is unclear due to the co-existence of inflammation, muscle degeneration and mitochondrial dysfunction. We aimed to provide a more advanced understanding of the disease by combining multi-omics analysis with prior knowledge.

Image-based robotic (ROSA knee system) total knee arthroplasty with inverse kinematic alignment compared to conventional total knee arthroplasty : Study protocol and the inverse kinematic alignment in 8-steps using the ROSA Knee system for knee balancing technique explained.

Introduction: In 2020, 368 million people globally were affected by knee osteoarthritis, and prevalence is projected to increase with 74% by 2050. Relatively high rates of dissatisfactory results after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), as reported by approximately 20% of patients, may be caused by sub-optimal knee alignment and balancing. While mechanical alignment has traditionally been the goal, patient-specific alignment strategies are gaining interest.

A conceptual model for advanced/metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer: a review of qualitative studies and results from patient interviews.

Background: Despite approvals of new first-line immunotherapies for advanced/metastatic gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (aGC/GEJC), patients' median survival is around 14 months and their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is affected by disease-related symptoms and treatment-related side effects. Using a targeted literature review (TLR) and patient interviews, this study identified disease- and treatment-related concepts that are important to patients with aGC/GEJC and their HRQoL.

Methods: A TLR was conducted to identify primary qualitative studies from 2018 to 2021 on patients' experiences with aGC/GEJC.

Tibial tubercle transfer SurgeRy and physiothErapy Versus physIotherapy only for chronic paTellofemorAL paIn: study protocol for a randomiSed controllEd trial (REVITALISE).

Background: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder resulting in anterior knee pain. Physiotherapy is the current standard treatment, while surgical intervention (tibial tubercle transfer [TTT]) is reserved for chronic cases when nonoperative treatment has failed. TTT can result in clinically meaningful improvement in patients with patellofemoral maltracking without instability.

Deep Radiogenomics Sequencing for Breast Tumor Gene-Phenotype Decoding Using Dynamic Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Purpose: We aim to perform radiogenomic profiling of breast cancer tumors using dynamic contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) genes.

Methods: The dataset used in the current study consists of imaging data of 922 biopsy-confirmed invasive breast cancer patients with ER, PR, and HER2 gene mutation status. Breast MR images, including a T1-weighted pre-contrast sequence and three post-contrast sequences, were enrolled for analysis.

Opportunities and limitations of B cell depletion approaches in SLE.

B cell depletion with rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that selectively targets B cells by binding CD20, has been used off label in severe and resistant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for over two decades. Several biological mechanisms limit the efficacy of rituximab, including immunological reactions towards the chimeric molecule, increased numbers of residual B cells, including plasmablasts and plasma cells, and a post-treatment surge in B cell-activating factor (BAFF) levels. Consequently, rituximab induces remission in only a proportion of patients, and safety issues limit its use.

Beneficial vs harmful effects of pharmacological treatment of patent ductus arteriosus: A Bayesian meta-analysis.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have failed to demonstrate the beneficial effects of the pharmacological treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants. We conducted a Bayesian model averaged (BMA) meta-analysis of RCTs comparing the pharmacological treatment of PDA with placebo or expectant treatment.

Methods: We searched for RCTs including infants with gestational age (GA) ≤ 32 weeks and with a rate of open-label treatment of less than 25% in the control arm.

Prognostic impact of expression of CD2, CD25, and/or CD30 in/on mast cells in systemic mastocytosis: a registry study of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis.

Expression of CD2, CD25 and/or CD30 in extracutaneous mast cells (MC) is a minor diagnostic criterion for systemic mastocytosis (SM) in the classification of the World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification. So far, it remains unknown whether expression of these antigens on MC is of prognostic significance in SM. We performed a retrospective multi-center study of patients with SM using the data set of the registry of the European Competence Network on Mastocytosis, including 5034 patients with various MC disorders.

Eight weeks of aerobic exercise, but not four, improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular performance in young women.

Regular aerobic exercise has a significant impact on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles, contributing to overall health improvement. However, evidence for optimal exercise duration to achieve these effects is limited. This study aims to explore the effects of 4 and 8 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and associated metabolic changes in young female students with insulin resistance and varying body mass, seeking to determine the optimal duration for physiological adaptations.

Clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of X-linked hypophosphataemia.

X-linked hypophosphataemia (XLH) is a rare metabolic bone disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the PHEX gene, which is predominantly expressed in osteoblasts, osteocytes and odontoblasts. XLH is characterized by increased synthesis of the bone-derived phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), which results in renal phosphate wasting with consecutive hypophosphataemia, rickets, osteomalacia, disproportionate short stature, oral manifestations, pseudofractures, craniosynostosis, enthesopathies and osteoarthritis. Patients with XLH should be provided with multidisciplinary care organized by a metabolic bone expert.

Fast and accurate deep learning scans for signatures of natural selection in genomes using FASTER-NN.

Deep learning classification models based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are increasingly used in population genetic inference for detecting signatures of natural selection. Prevailing detection methods treat the design of the classifier as a discrete phase, assuming that high classification accuracy is the sole prerequisite for precise detection. This frequently steers method development toward classification-driven optimizations that can inadvertently impede detection.

Herpesviruses mimic zygotic genome activation to promote viral replication.

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is crucial for maternal to zygotic transition at the 2-8-cell stage in order to overcome silencing of genes and enable transcription from the zygotic genome. In humans, ZGA is induced by DUX4, a pioneer factor that drives expression of downstream germline-specific genes and retroelements. Here we show that herpesviruses from all subfamilies, papillomaviruses and Merkel cell polyomavirus actively induce DUX4 expression to promote viral transcription and replication.

Heterologous Expression and Characterization of Estercin A, a Class II Lanthipeptide Derived from CF016, with Antimicrobial Activity against Clinically Relevant Pathogens.

Recent genome mining work revealed that unexplored habitats exhibit great potential for discovering new nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Lanthipeptides are a group of RiPPs exhibiting a variety of biological functions. They are characterized by the presence of the thioether-containing bis-amino acids lanthionine and/or methyllanthionine.

The Impact of Relocations Within Nursing Home Care on Long-Term Care Residents According to Stakeholders: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Nursing home residents can be faced with relocations within nursing home care for various reasons, whether individual or per group. We aimed to collect a broad stakeholder overview of observed and experienced impacts on residents and aspects that influence the impact.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured interviews followed by one focus group.

Do wood-boring beetles influence the flammability of deadwood?

Global warming increases the risk of wildfire and insect outbreaks, potentially reducing the carbon storage function of coarse woody debris (CWD). There is an increasing focus on the interactive effects of wildfire and insect infestation on forest carbon, but the impact of wood-boring beetle tunnels via their effect on the flammability of deadwood remains unexplored. We hypothesized that the presence of beetle holes, at natural densities, can affect its flammability positively through increased surface area and enhanced oxygen availability in the wood.

Associations between potential risk factors and blood-brain barrier water permeability in middle-aged and older adults.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is suggested to be a potential mediator between vascular risk factors and cognitive impairment, leading to vascular cognitive impairment. To investigate the relationships between age, sex, and vascular risk factors and BBB water permeability as well as their relationship with cognition. To measure BBB permeability, a novel arterial spin labelling MRI technique (ME-ASL) was applied to derive the time of exchange (Tex), arterial time transit (ATT), and cerebral blood flow (CBF).

Surgical Bailout in Patients Undergoing Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Incidence, Trends, and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) harbors the risk of periprocedural complications that require emergent cardiac surgery, or "surgical bailout." Surgical bailout intends to be lifesaving but is associated with high mortality. This has given rise to discussion on the necessity of surgical backup during TAVR.

Initial Decline in Glomerular Filtration Rate With Finerenone in HFmrEF/HFpEF: A Prespecified Analysis of FINEARTS-HF.

Background: An initial decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) often leads to reluctance to continue life-saving therapies in patients with heart failure (HF).

Objectives: The goal of this study was to describe the association between initial decline in eGFR and subsequent clinical outcomes in patients randomized to placebo or finerenone.

Methods: In this prespecified analysis of FINEARTS-HF (Finerenone Trial to Investigate Efficacy and Safety Superior to Placebo in Patients with Heart Failure), we examined the association between initial decline in eGFR (≥15%) from randomization to 1 month and subsequent outcomes in patients assigned to finerenone or placebo.

Association between patient perception of disease status and different components of the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) criteria in psoriatic arthritis.

Objective: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between the criteria met of the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) score for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and patient-perceived disease status.

Methods: We analysed data from the ReFlaP study (NCT03119805), a cross-sectional international study of adult patients with PsA. Patients self-reported if they felt their PsA was in remission (REM), low disease activity (LDA) or neither.

Association between abatacept exposure levels and infection occurrence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: post hoc analysis of the AVERT-2 study.

Objective: To determine if higher serum exposure during subcutaneous (SC) abatacept treatment was associated with an increased infection risk in adult patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Data from AVERT-2 (Assessing Very Early Rheumatoid arthritis Treatment-2, NCT02504268), a randomized, placebo-controlled study in anticitrullinated protein antibody- positive patients with early RA, were analyzed. A post hoc population pharmacokinetic (PPK) analysis was performed.

Differences in maternal diet fiber content influence patterns of gene expression and chromatin accessibility in fetuses and piglets.

This study investigates the impact of maternal gestation diets with varying fiber contents on gene expression and chromatin accessibility in fetuses and piglets fed a low fiber diet post weaning. High-fiber maternal diets, enriched with sugar beet pulp or pea internal fiber, were compared to a low-fiber maternal diet to evaluate their effects on liver and muscle tissues. The findings demonstrate that maternal high-fiber diets significantly alter chromatin accessibility, predicted transcription factor activity and transcriptional landscape in both fetuses and piglets.

Larger sample sizes are needed when developing a clinical prediction model using machine learning in oncology: methodological systematic review.

Background: Having a sufficient sample size is crucial when developing a clinical prediction model. We reviewed details of sample size in studies developing prediction models for binary outcomes using machine learning (ML) methods within oncology and compared the sample size used to develop the models with the minimum required sample size needed when developing a regression-based model (N).

Methods: We searched the Medline (via OVID) database for studies developing a prediction model using ML methods published in December 2022.

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with left-sided resectable pancreatic cancer: an international multicenter study.

Purpose: To assess the association between neoadjuvant therapy and overall survival (OS) in patients with left-sided resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) compared to upfront surgery.

Background: Left-sided pancreatic cancer is associated with worse OS compared to right-sided pancreatic cancer. Although neoadjuvant therapy is currently seen as not effective in patients with RPC, current randomized trials included mostly patients with right-sided RPC.

Application of Artificial Intelligence to Analyze Data from Randomized Controlled Trials: An Example from DECAAF-II.

Background: Causal machine learning (ML) provides an efficient way of identifying heterogeneous treatment effect groups from hundreds of possible combinations, especially for randomized trial data.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to illustrate the potential of applying causal ML on the DECAAF II trial data. We proposed a causal ML model to predict the treatment response heterogeneity.