Overlooked and underserved: how healthcare fails men in the pursuit of equity.

Purpose Of Review: Men face distinctive health-related challenges as a result of biological, behavioral, and sociocultural factors. In addition, the modern healthcare system does not offer men equal opportunities and options to ensure sex-specific access and delivery to health services. Men's health concerns are, indeed, often not addressed or even forgotten.

Metastasis-directed therapy in oligometastatic and oligoprogressive renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose Of Review: This review addresses the evolving role of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) in the management of oligometastatic and oligoprogressive renal cell carcinoma (RCC). With advances in both surgical techniques and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), it is timely to explore how MDT can improve patient outcomes in these distinct disease states. The review highlights the potential of MDT to delay systemic therapy and improve quality of life while noting the lack of randomized clinical trial data guiding its use.

Contemporary nonsurgical management of Peyronie's disease.

Purpose Of Review: Peyronie's disease characterizes a condition in which there is angular curvature of the penis. We know that the most patients with Peyronie's disease will not have spontaneous resolution of their penile curvature. As such, patients who desire treatment can elect for either surgical or nonsurgical therapy.

Effectiveness Overview of Agricultural Conservation Practices for Water Quality Improvement Part II.

Although significant governmental investment has been provided to implement agricultural conservation practices (ACPs) for water quality improvement, eutrophication and hypoxia persist in coastal and fresh waters. A better understanding of the comparative effectiveness of ACPs is needed to improve environmental outcomes with the funding available. The objectives of this overview article are to (1) compare the performance and cost effectiveness among all the ACPs reviewed in both the first and second editions of the Special Collection and (2) present critical perspectives for researchers, policymakers, and funding entities seeking to improve water quality.

A molecularly distinct cell type in the midbrain regulates intermale aggression behaviors in mice.

: The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a central hub for the regulation of aggression, whereas the circuitry and molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation remain uncharacterized. In this study, we investigate the role of a distinct cell type, -expressing (Tac2) neurons, located in the dorsomedial PAG (dmPAG) and their modulation of aggressive behavior in mice. : We combined activity mapping, Ca recording, chemogenetic and pharmacological manipulation, and a viral-based translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) profiling using a mouse resident-intruder model.

Inhibition of Bruton's tyrosine kinase restricts neuroinflammation following intracerebral hemorrhage.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating form of stroke with a lack of effective treatments. Following disease onset, ICH activates microglia and recruits peripheral leukocytes into the perihematomal region to amplify neural injury. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) controls the proliferation and survival of various myeloid cells and lymphocytes.

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase transforms carotid occlusion-mediated benign oligemia into large cerebral infarction.

It remains unclear why unilateral proximal carotid artery occlusion (UCAO) causes benign oligemia in mice, yet leads to various outcomes (asymptomatic-to-death) in humans. We hypothesized that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) both transforms UCAO-mediated oligemia into full infarction and expands pre-existing infarction. Using 900 mice, we i) investigated stroke-related effects of UCAO with/without intraperitoneal administration of the NOS inhibitor (NOSi) N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 400 mg/kg); ii) examined the rescue effect of the NO-donor, molsidomine (200 mg/kg at 30 minutes); and iii) tested the impact of antiplatelet medications.

Detecting metastatic potential of cancer through longitudinal vasculature imaging of biomaterial scaffold using non-invasive photoacoustic microscopy and optical coherence tomography.

Metastasis represents a stage in which the therapeutic objective changes from curing disease to prolonging survival, as detection typically occurs at advanced stages. Technologies for the early identification of disease would enable treatment at a lower disease burden and heterogeneity. Herein, we investigate the vascular dynamics within a synthetic metastatic niche as a potential marker of disease progression.

Photobiomodulation: shining a light on depression.

Depression is a prevalent public health issue, characterized by persistent low mood, impaired concentration, and diminished motivation. Photobiomodulation (PBM), which involves the application of red or near-infrared light, modulates physiological processes by enhancing cerebral blood flow, reducing inflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, and promoting neurogenesis. PBM can be administered transcranially or through systemic approaches, offering a potentially effective intervention for depression.

Standardization and consensus in the development and application of bone organoids.

Organoids, self-organized structures derived from stem cells cultured in a specific three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment, have emerged as innovative platforms that closely mimic cellular behavior, tissue architecture, and organ function. Bone organoids, a frontier in organoid research, can replicate the complex structures and functional characteristics of bone tissue. Recent advancements have led to the successful development of bone organoids, including models of callus, woven bone, cartilage, trabecular bone, and bone marrow.

S100A proteins show a spatial distribution of inflammation associated with the glioblastoma microenvironment architecture.

Glioblastoma IDH wild type (GBM IDH wt) has a poor prognosis and a strongly associated with inflammatory processes. Inflammatory molecules generate positive feedback with tumor cells fueling tumor growth as well as recruitment of immune cells that promote aggressiveness. Although the role of many inflammatory molecules is well known, there are many macromolecules, such as the S100A proteins, whose role is only now beginning to be established.

Health care systems and policies for older adults in Nepal: new challenges for a low-middle income country.

Background: Nepal, like other low- and middle-income countries, is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of older adults and the rate of aging in the population. This has increased the number of older adults with age-associated chronic illnesses, which in turn will escalate the demand for specialized healthcare and long-term care in Nepal. However, very little is known regarding the current healthcare system and health policies for older adults in Nepal.

Developing a framework for tracking antimicrobial resistance gene movement in a persistent environmental reservoir.

Mobile genetic elements are key to the global emergence of antibiotic resistance. We successfully reconstructed the complete bacterial genome and plasmid assemblies of isolates sharing the same carbapenemase gene to understand evolution over time in six confined hospital drains over five years. From 82 isolates we identified 14 unique strains from 10 species with 113 carrying plasmids across 16 distinct replicon types.

Early Diagnosis of Candidemia in the Intensive Care Unit by Clinical and Molecular Methods: A Prospective Observational Study.

Objective: Early diagnosis and treatment of candidemia in intensive care units (ICUs) remain a significant challenge globally because of the lack of well-established non-culture-based diagnostic methods. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors in critically ill ICU patients, develop a unique score, and create a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the early diagnosis of candidemia.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in three phases: 1) Retrospective analysis of 100 ICU patients from İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa between January 2017 and December 2018 to identify risk factors for invasive candidiasis, 2) development of Cerrahpaşa score based on these findings, and 3) prospective evaluation of 75 ICU patients, applying the newly created Cerrahpaşa score and implementing a rapid PCR-based test on whole blood samples.

Belzutifan as the Primary Treatment of Bilateral Juxtapapillary Retinal Hemangioblastoma in a Patient With Von Hippel-Lindau Disease.

To describe the efficacy of belzutifan as a treatment for juxtapapillary retinal hemangioblastomas in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. A case and its findings were analyzed, and a systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE. At a routine follow-up, a 63-year-old woman with a history of von Hippel-Lindau disease and slowly progressive bilateral juxtapapillary retinal hemangioblastomas presented with decreased visual acuity (VA) in the right eye resulting from significant lesion growth and an increase in central macular edema and exudate.

Mutation Causing Pediatric Macular Chorioretinal Atrophy Associated With Stickler Syndrome.

To report a case of macular chorioretinal atrophy associated with Stickler syndrome in a pediatric patient with a genetically confirmed mutation. A single case was evaluated. A 3-year-old girl was found to have macular chorioretinal atrophy in the right eye and a retinal detachment in the left eye.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency Associated With Noninfectious Pulmonary Complications and Its Treatment: Beyond Immunoglobulin Therapy.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a type of primary immunodeficiency that presents as a heterogenous disorder characterized by hypogammaglobinemia, poor response to vaccines, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, and can have noninfectious systemic manifestations. We performed a single-center, retrospective, observational study of five patients with noninfectious complications of CVID. All patients had CVID as defined by the European Society of Immunodeficiencies criteria and had received intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Brain Network Alterations in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Multilayer Community Detection Approach.

Neurological recovery in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) is multifaceted, involving mechanisms such as remyelination and perilesional spinal neuroplasticity, with cortical reorganization being one contributing factor. Cortical reorganization, in particular, can be evaluated through network (graph) analysis of interregional functional connectivity. This study aimed to investigate cortical reorganization patterns in persons with chronic SCI using a multilayer community detection approach on resting-state functional MRI data.

Neuroinflammation at the Gray-White Matter Interface in Active-Duty U.S. Special Operations Forces.

Emerging evidence from autopsy studies indicates that interface astroglial scarring (IAS) at the gray-white matter junction is a pathological signature of repeated blast brain injury in military personnel. However, there is currently no neuroimaging test that detects IAS, which is a major barrier to diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. In 27 active-duty U.

Low-Intensity Blast Exposure Induces Multifaceted Long-Lasting Anxiety-Related Behaviors in Mice.

Primary blast exposure is a predominant cause of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) among veterans and active-duty military personnel, and affected individuals may develop long-lasting behavioral disturbances that interfere with quality of life. Our prior research with the "Missouri Blast" model demonstrated behavioral changes relevant to deficits in cognitive and affective domains after exposure to low-intensity blast (LIB). In this study, behavioral evaluations were extended to 3 months post-LIB injury using multifaceted conventional and advanced behavioral paradigms.

Remote Extended Reality with Markerless Motion Tracking for Sitting Posture Training.

Dynamic postural control during sitting is essential for functional mobility and daily activities. Extended reality (XR) presents a promising solution for posture training in addressing conventional training limitations related to patient accessibility and ecological validity. We developed a remote XR rehabilitation system with markerless motion tracking for sitting posture training.

Technical and Biological Biases in Bulk Transcriptomic Data Mining for Cancer Research.

Cancer research has been significantly advanced by the integration of transcriptomic data through high-throughput sequencing technologies like RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). This paper reviews the transformative impact of transcriptomics on understanding cancer biology, focusing on the use of extensive datasets such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). While transcriptomic data provides crucial insights into gene expression patterns and disease mechanisms, the analysis is fraught with technical and biological biases.

MiR-675 Inhibits Primary Ovarian Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Suppressing EMT and TGFβ Signaling.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. This study explores the role of miR-675 in ovarian cancer (OC) using OC cell lines and an orthotopic mouse model. We demonstrate that miR-675 expression inhibits primary tumor growth and metastasis by targeting TGFβ1, suppressing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and attenuating the TGFβ signaling pathway.