Proton Tunneling Allows a Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Process in the Cancer Cell.

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is a fundamental redox process and has clear advantages in selectively activating challenging C-H bonds in many biological processes. Intrigued by this activation process, we aimed to develop a facile PCET process in cancer cells by modulating proton tunneling. This approach should lead to the design of an alternative photodynamic therapy (PDT) that depletes the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), the key redox regulator in cancer cells under hypoxia.

Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers of Oligometastatic NSCLC: New Insights and Clinical Applications.

This review discusses the current data on predictive and prognostic biomarkers in oligometastatic NSCLC and discusses whether biomarkers identified in other stages and widespread metastatic disease can be extrapolated to the oligometastatic disease (OMD) setting. Research is underway to explore the prognostic and predictive value of biological attributes of tumor tissue, circulating cells, the tumor microenvironment, and imaging findings as biomarkers of oligometastatic NSCLC. Biomarkers that help define true OMD and predict outcomes are needed for patient selection for oligometastatic treatment, and to avoid futile treatments in patients that will not benefit from locoregional treatment.

Prognostic Value of / Status for Overall Survival in First-Line Monoimmunotherapy and Chemoimmunotherapy Treated Patients With Nonsquamous NSCLC in the Netherlands: A Brief Report.

Introduction: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is the main predictive biomarker used to identify patients with NSCLC who are eligible for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Despite its utility, the predictive capacity of PD-L1 is limited, necessitating the exploration of supplementary predictive biomarkers. In this report, we describe the prognostic value of / mutation status for overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC treated with first-line immunotherapy or combined chemoimmunotherapy.

Challenges to Students' Learning and Wellbeing During Placement Abroad: A Qualitative Study Using Rich Pictures.

Introduction: Undergraduate healthcare students on placement abroad can experience challenges that affect their wellbeing, personal and professional development. These challenges may result in students taking a more peripheral role in workplace activities, which negatively impacts learning. We studied .

Conservation of structural brain connectivity in people with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. Structures affected in MS include the corpus callosum, connecting the hemispheres. Studies have shown that in mammalian brains, structural connectivity is organized according to a conservation principle, an inverse relationship between intra- and interhemispheric connectivity.

Age-related unstable transient states and imbalanced activation proportion of brain networks in people with autism spectrum disorder: A resting-state fMRI study using coactivation pattern analyses.

The atypical static brain functions related to the executive control network (ECN), default mode network (DMN), and salience network (SN) in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been widely reported. However, their transient functions in ASD are not clear. We aim to identify transient network states (TNSs) using coactivation pattern (CAP) analysis to characterize the age-related atypical transient functions in ASD.

The case for neurons: a no-go theorem for consciousness on a chip.

We apply the methodology of no-go theorems as developed in physics to the question of artificial consciousness. The result is a no-go theorem which shows that under a general assumption, called dynamical relevance, Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that run on contemporary computer chips cannot be conscious. Consciousness is dynamically relevant, simply put, if, according to a theory of consciousness, it is relevant for the temporal evolution of a system's states.

Cyclic Ruthenium-Peptide Prodrugs Penetrate the Blood-Brain Barrier and Attack Glioblastoma upon Light Activation in Orthotopic Zebrafish Tumor Models.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents one of the main obstacles to delivering anticancer drugs in glioblastoma. Herein, we investigated the potential of a series of cyclic ruthenium-peptide conjugates as photoactivated therapy candidates for the treatment of this aggressive tumor. The three compounds studied, , , and ([Ru(Phphen) Ac-XRGDX-NH)]Cl with Phphen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and X, X = His or Met), include an integrin-targeted pentapeptide coordinated to a ruthenium warhead via two photoactivated ruthenium-X bonds.

Gatekeeping or Provider Choice for Sustainable Health Systems? A Literature Review on Their Impact on Efficiency, Access, and Quality of Services.

As early as 1978, the World Health Organization set primary healthcare as the basis on which health systems should be built worldwide. However, the health systems of the different countries show considerable variations in terms of the implementation of gatekeeping from primary to secondary healthcare and direct access to specialists and hospital care. This literature review attempts to present the gatekeeping system with references to the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Germany compared to the situation in Greece, where no gatekeeping system exists.

Catheter ablation using pulsed-field energy: Do we finally have the magic wand to defeat atrial fibrillation?

Clinical outcomes of catheter ablation remain suboptimal in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), particularly in those with persistent AF, despite decades of research, clinical trials, and technological advancements. Recently, pulsed-field ablation (PFA), a promising non-thermal technology, has been introduced to improve procedural outcomes. Its unique feature of myocardial selectivity offers safety advantages by avoiding potential harm to vulnerable adjacent structures during AF ablation.

Facing the fear: a narrative review on the potential of pressure training in music.

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is one of the most reported psychological problems among musicians, posing a significant threat to the optimal performance, health, and psychological wellbeing of musicians. Most research on MPA treatment has focused on reducing symptoms of performance anxiety, but complete "cures" are uncommon. A promising addition or alternative that may help musicians enhance their performance under pressure, despite their anxiety, is pressure training (PT).

Explicit metrics for implicit emotions: investigating physiological and gaze indices of learner emotions.

Learning experiences are intertwined with emotions, which in turn have a significant effect on learning outcomes. Therefore, digital learning environments can benefit from taking the emotional state of the learner into account. To do so, the first step is real-time emotion detection which is made possible by sensors that can continuously collect physiological and eye-tracking data.

Irregularly regulated collecting markets: antiquities, fossils, and wildlife.

This paper examines the dynamics of 'irregularly regulated markets', specifically those dealing with what we term 'criminogenic collectables': antiquities, fossils, and wildlife. Through the lens of 'irregular regulation' we consider how inconsistencies and loopholes in legal frameworks contribute to criminal activities in these markets. We outline five ways that such markets can be considered irregular: socially, jurisdictionally, temporally, culturally and discursively.

Talking Cancer-Cancer Talking: A Linguistic and Thematic Analysis of Patient Narratives.

To explore "the lived experience" of patients with cancer through narratives, in-depth interviews with 20 patients were conducted in the patients' homes-"at the kitchen table." Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed following the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) methodology. Thematic Analysis was used to explore themes in the narratives.

Why Current Detection of Vascular Calcification Falls Short and How to Improve on It.

Vascular calcification is a common phenomenon in various vascular diseases, where its presence heralds increased occurrence of adverse disease events, which invariably lead to increased morbidity and mortality in patients. Although the impact of calcification has become apparent, adequate and early detection of the most damaging form of early microcalcification is still in its infancy, preventing reliable identification of locations that would benefit from intervention. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art noninvasive calcification imaging and its persisting limitations.

Lumbar Facet Joint Radiofrequency Ablation With a 3-Tined Cannula: A Technical Report and Observational Study.

Lumbar facet joints are the source of pain in 15%-41% of individuals experiencing low back pain (LBP). Conventional lumbar facet radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has Level II evidence for improving pain and function. The best proven technique, the parallel technique, is technically challenging, time-consuming, and often uncomfortable for the patient.

Promoting braveness in children: A pilot study on the effects of a brief, intensive CBT-based anxiety prevention programme conducted in the South African context.

Background: Children within historically disadvantaged non-Western South African communities are considered as particularly vulnerable to the development of anxiety problems. Although the need for accessible mental health interventions is evident, this need has remained unmet in a country with extreme socio-economic disparities and a lack of mental health resources. Cognitive behavioural therapy-based (CBT-based) interventions that employ brief and intensive delivery methods may overcome existing barriers to access to mental health services faced by many South African children and may ameliorate the burden placed on under-resourced mental health care services.

Innate immune response after BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination associates with reactogenicity.

Background: The innate immune response is important for the development of the specific adaptive immunity, however it may also be associated with reactogenicity after vaccination. We explore the association between innate responsiveness, reactogenicity, and antibody response after first COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: We included 146 healthy Dutch individuals aged 12-59 who received their first BNT162b2 (Comirnaty, Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccination.

Genome-wide association study on chronic postsurgical pain after abdominal surgeries in the UK Biobank.

Introduction: Chronic pain is one of the most common and severe complications after surgery, affecting quality of life and overall wellbeing of patients. Several risk factors have been identified but the mechanisms of chronic postsurgical pain development remain unclear. This study aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with developing chronic postsurgical pain after abdominal surgery, one of the most common types of surgery.

How do we define normal bowel frequency from newborn to teens?: A Bayesian meta-analysis.

Objectives: Defecation disorders are a common pediatric problem and bowel frequency is crucial in identifying them. The aim of this analysis is to define normal bowel frequencies in healthy children ranging from newborns to adolescents.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception to February 2024, aiming to identify studies reporting bowel habits of healthy children (0-18 years).

Terbinafine Resistance in Trichophyton Species From Patients With Recalcitrant Infections Detected by the EUCAST Broth Microdilution Method and DermaGenius Resistance Multiplex PCR Kit.

Background: Emerging terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton species has been reported globally. The prevalence in clinical samples from patients with treatment failure is unknown in Denmark.

Objectives: Prospective study of terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton isolates from patients with recalcitrant skin or nail infections.