Validation of the PANAMA-Score for Survival and Benefit of Adjuvant Therapy in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer After Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

Aim: To validate the prognostic value of the PAncreatic NeoAdjuvant MAssachusetts (PANAMA)-score and to determine its predictive ability for survival benefit derived from adjuvant treatment in patients after resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) following neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX.

Background: The PANAMA-score was developed to guide prognostication in patients after neoadjuvant therapy and resection for PDAC. As this score focuses on the risk for residual disease after resection, it might also be able to select patients who benefit from adjuvant after neoadjuvant therapy.

SMARCB1/INI-1-Deficient sinonasal carcinoma demonstrates a poor prognosis but favorable clinical outcomes after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy: A case series.

Despite advances in multimodal cancer therapy, such as combining radical surgery with high-intensity chemoradiotherapy, for SMARCB1/INI-1-deficient sinonasal carcinoma (SDSC), the prognosis of patients remains poor. Immunotherapy is gaining increasing popularity as a novel treatment strategy for patients with SMARCB1/INI-1-deficient tumors. Herein, we report on the management of three patients with SDSC who received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy as a part of multimodal therapy based on surgery and chemoradiotherapy.

Double-blind randomised trial of saline solution for gargling and nasal rinsing in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Previous studies have shown that hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling reduced the duration of symptoms in upper respiratory infections caused by coronavirus. This study aims to investigate the effects of two saline regimens on symptoms associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: Between 2020 and 2022, individuals aged 18-65 years who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were randomly assigned to either low- or high-saline regimens for 14 days.

Prediction of inpatient mortality in hospitalised children in low- and middle-income countries: An external validation of paediatric mortality risk scores.

Background: Risk prediction tools for acutely ill children have been developed in high- and low-income settings, but few are validated or incorporated into clinical guidelines. We aimed to assess the performance of existing paediatric early warning scores for use in low- and middle-income countries using clinical data from a recent large multi-country study in Africa and South-Asia.

Methods: We used data (children across three nutritional strata) from the Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network cohort study (n = 3101).

Refractive Results With EyeCryl Phakic Toric Intraocular Lens Implantation in a Hospital in Medina, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and stability of EyeCryl Phakic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.

Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted in Maghrabi Hospital in Medina to review 31 patients who underwent posterior chamber phakic IOL (EyeCryl Phakic IOL) for surgical correction of myopia or astigmatism. The data were collected from patient medical records after obtaining their consents.

Rates and Predictors of Malignancy in Bethesda III and IV Thyroid Nodules: A Prospective Study.

Aim: Thyroid nodules, based on high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS), are among the most common endocrine abnormalities that affect the general population because of their high estimated prevalence rates. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a safe, cost-effective modality to differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules based on the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC), thus avoiding unnecessary surgery. However, categories III and IV of BSRTC remain a controversial issue in clinical practice, encompassing a wide range of risks of malignancy.

Exosomal lncRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic targets in multiple myeloma.

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is the second most common malignancy of the hematopoietic system, accounting for approximately 10% of all hematological malignancies, and currently, there is no complete cure. Existing research indicates that exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in the initiation and progression of tumors, involving various interactions such as lncRNA-miRNA, lncRNA-mRNA, and lncRNA-RNA binding proteins (RBP). Despite the significant clinical application potential of exosomal lncRNAs, research in this area still faces challenges due to their low abundance and technical limitations.

Variations in ECM Topography, Fiber Alignment, Mechanical Stiffness, and Cellular Composition Between Ventral and Dorsal Ligamentum Flavum Layers: Insights Into Hypertrophy Pathogenesis.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a significant role in the development of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) and the histological differences between the ventral and dorsal layers of the hypertrophied ligamentum flavum. Although LFH is associated with increased fibrosis in the dorsal layer, comprehensive research exploring the characteristics of the ECM and its mechanical properties in both regions is limited. Furthermore, the distribution of fibrosis-associated myofibroblasts within LFH remains poorly understood.

Pre-treatment nutrition-related indicators and the prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer: an ambispective cohort study.

Background: Few studies have explored the link between nutritional status and prognosis in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and existing findings are controversial. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effects of pre-treatment nutrition-related indicators on the prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed EOC.

Methods: In this ambispective cohort study, 1,020 patients with EOC diagnosed by pathology examination were enrolled and followed-up until December 31, 2023.

Harnessing the potential of hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) hydrogel for clinical applications in orthopaedic diseases.

Unlabelled: The treatment of orthopaedic diseases, such as fractures and osteoarthritis, remains a significant challenge due to the complex requirements for mechanical strength and tissue repair. Hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) show promise as tissue engineering materials for these conditions. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural component of the extracellular matrix, known for its good compatibility.

The role of conscious attention in auditory statistical learning: Evidence from patients with impaired consciousness.

The need for attention to enable statistical learning is debated. Testing individuals with impaired consciousness offers valuable insight, but very few studies have been conducted due to the difficulties inherent in such studies. Here, we examined the ability of patients with varying levels of disorders of consciousness (DOC) to extract statistical regularities from an artificial language composed of randomly concatenated pseudowords by measuring frequency tagging in EEG.

Hyperglycemic milieu impairs Vγ9Vδ2 T cell functions in tuberculosis patients and prolongs M.tb negative conversion time.

γδ T cells play protective roles in tuberculosis (TB). Our work demonstrated the therapeutic potential of allogeneic Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in TB patients. However, their functions in TB require further comprehensive evaluation.

P2X7R antagonism suppresses long-lasting brain hyperexcitability following traumatic brain injury in mice.

Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is one of the most common life-quality reducing consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, to date there are no pharmacological approaches to predict or to prevent the development of PTE. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is a cationic ATP-dependent membrane channel that is expressed throughout the brain.

Inflammation biomarkers and Alzheimer's disease: A pilot study using NULISAseq.

Introduction: Increasing evidence links amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation with inflammation. This pilot study investigated the use of an immunoassay panel to map biomarker changes in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, we evaluated the stability of protein quantification after multiple freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Apple Watch Electrocardiogram for Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, smartwatches like the Apple Watch have emerged as a promising, user-friendly device for rapid detection and diagnosis of AF, but the reliability and diagnostic accuracy still remain controversial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis evaluating the diagnostic performance of the Apple Watch ECG in detecting AF.

Diversity Recruitment in Cardiovascular Specialties: Barriers and Opportunities in Postgraduate Training Programs.

Background: Diversity in postgraduate training programs can be increased through program-based recruitment strategies. Prospective applicants often examine website content to determine if training programs are inclusive and offer a good fit. Poor overlap between program director recruitment goals and program website content as a barrier to recruiting a diverse physician workforce has not extensively been studied.

Sex Differences in the Safety and Efficacy of Different Durations of DAPT After PCI.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the clinical impact of abbreviating the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and have reported outcomes in men and women.

Objectives: The authors examined the safety and efficacy of different durations of DAPT following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in men and women.

Methods: We searched Cochrane, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for RCTs that compared any 2 of 1, 3, 6, or 12 months of DAPT after PCI and reported outcomes in men and women.

Clonal Hematopoiesis Is Associated With Adverse Clinical Outcomes and Left Ventricular Remodeling in Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has been linked to intensified systemic inflammation and represents a novel risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, including aortic stenosis (AS).

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinical impact of CHIP in a cohort of severe AS patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: We enrolled 110 severe AS patients in this retrospective study.

Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Leader-follower Robot-assisted System for Femur Fracture Surgery.

In the face of challenges encountered during femur fracture surgery, such as the high rates of malalignment and X-ray exposure to operating personnel, robot-assisted surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional state-of-the-art surgical methods. This paper introduces the development of a leader-follower robot-assisted system for femur fracture surgery, called Robossis. Robossis comprises a 7-DOF haptic controller and a 6-DOF surgical robot.

Association between family economic decision-making power and survival outcomes among older adults in China: A population-based longitudinal study.

Objective: This study examines the association between family economic decision-making power and survival outcomes among older adults.

Methods: Data were drawn from the China Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2005 to 2018. Family economic decision-making power was assessed based on participants' self-reported influence over household financial matters, categorized as: "making decisions on almost all household expenditures", "deciding on non-essential spending", "only deciding on personal expenditures", and "having no decision-making power over household spending".

Lipid Metabolic Heterogeneity during Early Embryogenesis Revealed by Hyper-3D Stimulated Raman Imaging.

Studying embryogenesis is fundamental to understanding developmental biology and reproductive medicine. Its process requires precise spatiotemporal regulations in which lipid metabolism plays a crucial role. However, the spatial dynamics of lipid species at the subcellular level remains obscure due to technical limitations.

Prognostic Value of Postpercutaneous Coronary Intervention Murray-Law-Based Quantitative Flow Ratio: Post Hoc Analysis From FLAVOUR Trial.

Background: Coronary physiology measured by fractional flow reserve (FFR) is superior to angiography for assessing the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Yet, the clinical adoption of post-PCI FFR is limited. Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (μQFR) may represent a promising alternative, as it can quickly compute FFR from a single angiographic view.