High BRAF V600 Mutation Level Associated with Worse Outcome in Metastatic Melanoma Patients Receiving BRAF and MEK Inhibitors.

The prognostic value of BRAF V600 mutation level on clinical outcomes in patients with BRAF V600-mutated metastatic melanoma treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors remains uncertain. The association was retrospectively analysed between BRAF V600 mutation level (defined as the ratio of the quantification of the BRAF V600 allele to the percentage of tumoral cells in the sample analysed) and progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS, respectively) and 3-month response rate in a cohort of 58 patients with metastatic melanoma who harboured BRAF V600E/K mutations and received dual targeted-therapy BRAF/MEK inhibitors. The BRAF mutation level cut-off determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve after internal validation by bootstrap methods was 0.

Comparison of two proxies for the preconception weight using data from a pre-pregnancy cohort in Benin: Weight measured in the first trimester of pregnancy vs estimated by Thomas' formula.

Accurate determination of pre-pregnancy weight is essential for optimal pregnancy monitoring and antenatal care. Determining pre-pregnancy weight in limited-resources settings is challenging for both clinical practice and public health research. From a 2014-2017 pre-pregnancy cohort in Benin, we evaluated the agreement between the measured pre-pregnancy weight (MPPW) and two proxies: (i) the first trimester pregnancy weight (FTPW) and (ii) the estimated pre-pregnancy weight (EPPW) using Thomas & al.

COLODETECT 1: comparative evaluation of endocuff with computer-aided detection versus computer-aided detection alone versus standard colonoscopy for enhancing adenoma detection rates during screening colonoscopy-a pilot study.

Background: Independent use of artificial intelligence with computer-aided detection (CADe) and Endocuff Vision (ECV) has demonstrated enhanced adenoma detection rates (ADRs).

Objective: Our pilot study aimed to define the necessary participant number for future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by comparing the ADR of combined CADe + ECV against CADe alone and standard colonoscopy.

Design: This single-center pilot study retrospectively analyzed a prospectively maintained database, where patients underwent screening colonoscopies sequentially by standard method, CADe alone, and then CADe + ECV.

Predictors of pain during phacoemulsification under local sedation: A multicentric study.

Purpose: To assess the risk factors for pain during cataract surgery under local anesthesia.

Methods: This multicentric observational study assessed risk factors for pain during cataract surgery from June to November 2020 in a private clinic and two university hospitals (France). Adults who underwent cataract surgery under local anesthesia with conscious sedation were consecutively included.

West Nile virus can be transmitted within mosquito populations through infectious mosquito excreta.

Understanding the transmission routes of arboviruses is key to determining their epidemiology. Here, we tested whether West Nile viruses (WNVs) are transmitted through mosquito excreta. First, we observed a high concentration of infectious units per excreta, although viruses were short lived.

Covalent Pectin/Arabinoxylan Hydrogels: Rheological and Microstructural Characterization.

This research aimed to evaluate the gelation process of ferulated pectin (FP) and ferulated arabinoxylan (AXF) in a new mixed hydrogel and determine its microstructural characteristics. FP from sugar beet () and arabinoxylan from maize () bran were gelled via oxidative coupling using laccase as a crosslinking agent. The dynamic oscillatory rheology of the mixed hydrogel revealed a maximum storage modulus of 768 Pa after 60 min.

Silver Nanoparticles in Therapeutics and Beyond: A Review of Mechanism Insights and Applications.

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) have become highly promising agents in the field of biomedical science, offering wide therapeutic potential due to their unique physicochemical properties. The unique characteristics of silver NPs, such as their higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, make them ideal for a variety of biological applications. They are easily processed thanks to their large surface area, strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR), stable nature, and multifunctionality.

Intracranial Drain-Related Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Two Sporadic Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Patients.

 Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) are often associated. Amyloid accumulation within leptomeningeal and small/median-sized cerebral blood vessels in CAA results in vessel fragility, leading to spontaneous leptomeningeal bleeding, lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cerebral microbleeds. CAA is also associated with non-traumatic subdural hematoma.

Exome Sequencing Detects Uniparental Disomy of Chromosome 4 Revealing a LARP7 Pathogenic Variant Responsible for Alazami Syndrome: A Case Report.

Alazami syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by global developmental delay, growth restriction, and distinctive facial features. Fewer than 50 individuals are currently reported with biallelic loss of function variants in LARP7. We report the case of a 3.

Timing of food pieces introduction and neurodevelopment: findings from a nationwide birth cohort.

Background: While complementary feeding can be challenging, little emphasis has been placed on the introduction to food texture/pieces, especially in terms of neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study aims to determine the association between the timing of introduction to food pieces during infancy and neurodevelopment in early childhood. We hypothesized that late introduction to food texture/pieces relates to unfavorable neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Urchin-like WO Particles Form Honeycomb-like Structured PLA/WO Nanocomposites with Enhanced Crystallinity, Thermal Stability, Rheological, and UV-Blocking and Antifungal Activity.

The development of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites incorporating urchin-like WO particles through a cost-effective solution-casting method has led to significant enhancements in structural, thermal, optical, and rheological properties. The incorporation of these WO particles up to 7 wt% resulted in the formation of an irregular honeycomb-like morphology with broad pore sizes ranging from 14.1 to 24.

Warming and trophic structure tightly control phytoplankton bloom amplitude, composition and succession.

To better identify the responses of phytoplankton blooms to warming conditions as expected in a climate change context, an in situ mesocosm experiment was carried out in a coastal Mediterranean lagoon (Thau Lagoon, South of France) in April 2018. Our objective was to assess both the direct and indirect effects of warming on phytoplankton, particularly those mediated by top-down control. Four treatments were applied: 1) natural planktonic community with ambient water temperature (C); 2) natural planktonic community at +3°C elevated temperature (T); 3) exclusion of larger zooplankton (> 200 μm; mesozooplankton) leaving microzooplankton predominant with ambient water temperature (MicroZ); and 4) exclusion of larger zooplankton (> 200 μm; mesozooplankton) at +3°C elevated temperature (TMicroZ).

Improved species assignments across the entire genus using targeted sequencing.

Accurate species identification of the mosquitoes in the genus is of crucial importance to implement malaria control measures and monitor their effectiveness. We use a previously developed amplicon panel (ANOSPP) that retrieves sequence data from multiple short nuclear loci for any species in the genus. Species assignment is based on comparison of samples to a reference index using -mer distance.

Pomegranate-Quinoa-Based Agroforestry System: An Innovative Strategy to Alleviate Salinity Effects and Enhance Land Use Efficiency in Salt-Affected Semiarid Regions.

Salinity is a major problem, impeding soil productivity, agricultural sustainability, and food security, particularly in dry regions. This study integrates quinoa, a facultative halophyte, into a pomegranate-based agroforestry with saline irrigation in northeast Morocco. We aim to explore this agroforestry model's potential in mitigating salinity's effects on quinoa's agronomic and biochemical traits and evaluate the land equivalent ratio (LER).

Traumatic dislocation of the globe into the maxillary sinus with early recovery of visual acuity: Case report and review of the literature on management.

Traumatic orbital fracture with prolapse of the globe into the paranasal sinuses is very rare. The visual prognosis is poor, and the medical and surgical management is still a topic of debate. We herein describe an extremely rare case of globe dislocation into the left maxillary sinus with complete recovery of visual acuity.

A Comparative Study of Ni-Based Catalysts Prepared by Various Sol-Gel Routes.

The use of heterogeneous catalysts to increase the development of green chemistry is a rapidly growing area of research to save industry money. In this paper, mesoporous SiO-AlO mixed oxide supports with various Si/Al ratios were prepared using two different sol-gel routes: hydrolytic sol-gel (HSG) and non-hydrolytic sol-gel (NHSG). The HSG route was investigated in both acidic and basic media, while the NHSG was explored in the presence of ethanol and diisopropyl ether as oxygen donors.

Generating novel tennis racket shape concepts using a theoretical morphospace.

Statistical shape analysis, or morphometrics, is a technique commonly used in evolutionary biology to summarise a population of samples. Theoretical morphometrics extends the current population of samples into a theoretical space. Using the lawn tennis racket as an example, this paper showcases the potential of morphometrics as a tool for inspiring design concepts for novel sporting goods.