Sensitive liquid biopsy monitoring correlates with outcome in the prospective international GPOH-DCOG high-risk neuroblastoma RT-qPCR validation study.

Background: Liquid biopsies offer less burdensome sensitive disease monitoring. Bone marrow (BM) metastases, common in various cancers including neuroblastoma, is associated with poor outcomes. In pediatric high-risk neuroblastoma most patients initially respond to treatment, but in the majority the disease recurs with only 40% long-term survivors, stressing the need for more sensitive detection of disseminated disease during therapy.

Outbreak of cholera in the Southwest region of Cameroon, 2021-22: an epidemiological investigation.

Background: In October 2021, a large outbreak of cholera was declared in Cameroon, disproportionately affecting the Southwest region, one of 10 administrative regions in the country. In this region, the cases were concentrated in three major cities where a humanitarian crisis had concomitantly led to an influx of internally displaced persons. Meanwhile, across the border, Nigeria was facing an unprecedented cholera outbreak.

Ferret Gastroenterology.

Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) commonly present with gastrointestinal disease, which can be of noninfectious and infectious origin. Clinical signs are often nonspecific, and can include lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and melena. Obtaining a detailed history, followed by a thorough physical examination and systematic diagnostic approach are the key to obtaining a correct diagnosis.

Sample size estimation for task-related functional MRI studies using Bayesian updating.

Task-related functional MRI (fMRI) studies need to be properly powered with an adequate sample size to reliably detect effects of interest. But for most fMRI studies, it is not straightforward to determine a proper sample size using power calculations based on published effect sizes. Here, we present an alternative approach of sample size estimation with empirical Bayesian updating.

Validation of a diode-based phantom for high temporal and spatial measurements in a 1.5 T MR-linac.

Background: For the development and validation of dynamic treatment modalities and processes on the MR-linac, independent measurements should be performed that validate dose delivery and linac behavior at a high temporal resolution. To achieve this, a detector with both high temporal and spatial resolution is necessary.

Purpose: This study investigates the suitability of a Delta4 Phantom+ MR (Delta4) detector array for time-resolved dosimetry in the 1.

NanoCMSer: a consensus molecular subtype stratification tool for fresh-frozen and paraffin-embedded colorectal cancer samples.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant contributor to cancer-related mortality, emphasizing the need for advanced biomarkers to guide treatment. As part of an international consortium, we previously categorized CRCs into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1-CMS4), showing promise for outcome prediction. To facilitate clinical integration of CMS classification in settings where formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples are routinely used, we developed NanoCMSer, a NanoString-based CMS classifier using 55 genes.

Decay Rates of Maternal Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Antibody Levels in Early and Moderate-to-Late Preterm and Term Infants at Birth and at Two Months.

A post hoc analysis of maternally derived antibodies at birth and age 2 months following second trimester maternal Tdap vaccination between 20 and 24 weeks' gestational age (GA) showed a faster decay rate of Tdap-related immunoglobulin G in early preterms born before 32 weeks' GA compared with moderate-to-late preterms and full-terms. This is different from previous studies and merits further research.

Consequences of "zombie-making" and generalist fungal pathogens on carpenter ant microbiota.

The bacterial microbiome of the ant has been well characterized across body regions and maturation levels. However, potential effects of entomopathogens on the gut microbiome, and the fungal communities therein, are yet to be assessed. Additionally, the mycobiome remains often overlooked despite playing a vital role in gut ecology with potential implications for health and infection outcomes.

Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcomes of HIV Care in HIV-Positive Clients Entering HIV Care With Advanced HIV Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa 2010-2022: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Aims: Sub-Saharan Africa drives global HIV-related mortality, and patients continuously present with advanced HIV disease (AHD) at diagnosis. We describe prevalence, predictors, and treatment outcomes in HIV clients with AHD.

Methods: We systematically reviewed PUBMED, SCOPUS, Web of Science, JSTOR, and CINAHL for relevant studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2010 to 2022.

Ecologically sustainable benchmarking of AI models for histopathology.

Deep learning (DL) holds great promise to improve medical diagnostics, including pathology. Current DL research mainly focuses on performance. DL implementation potentially leads to environmental consequences but approaches for assessment of both performance and carbon footprint are missing.

Is framing of treatment options misleading? Maybe, but not because of a lower-bound reading.

In a recent paper, Yeo argues that the framing of treatment options by physicians in the contexts of patient's decision-making conflicts with a physician's duty of disclosure. I argue that this conclusion is drawn too quickly, as it is questionable whether the empirical research on which Yeo relies is applicable to the framing of treatment options. This means that Yeo's main assumption is undermined, and we should hold off on concluding that the framing of treatment options is misleading.

Association between maternal systemic lupus erythematosus and infant infection: a population-based cohort study in Sweden.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to investigate infection risk in offspring born to women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with offspring born to women without SLE and examine the mediating role of preterm birth.

Design: This is a register-based cohort study.

Setting: Liveborn singletons born in Sweden, 2006-2021, were included in the study.

Left atrial strain predicts long-term heart failure outcomes after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Left atrial (LA) strain reflects not only LA function but also systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. We therefore hypothesize that LA strain may be a comprehensive predictor of heart failure related endpoints after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We aim to assess the impact of LA reservoir strain on the long-term prognosis following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Mental Health Disparities Between Both-, Other- and Same-Sex Attracted Adolescents: The Role of Bullying Victimization, Gender and Age.

Research shows that both-sex attracted adults have poorer mental health than other- and same-sex attracted adults, but evidence regarding whether similar disparities exist among adolescents remains limited. To investigate this, the current study examines differences in life satisfaction and emotional problems between both-, other- and same-sex attracted adolescents. It also studies whether bullying victimization can explain these differences and whether the associations vary by gender and age.

The association between animal protein, plant protein, and their substitution with bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies.

Purpose: Although total dietary protein intake has been associated with bladder cancer (BC) risk, the effect of the origin (plant or animal) and the substitutions remain to be understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of total dietary protein, animal-based protein, plant-based protein, and their substitutions with each other on the risk of BC using a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies.

Methods: The study was conducted within the "BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants" (BLEND) study, including 10 prospective cohort studies from several European countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Coupling Modelling and Experiments to Analyse Leaf Photosynthesis Under Far-Red Light.

Leaf photosynthesis models are used extensively in photosynthesis research and are embedded in many larger scale models. Typical photosynthesis models simplify light intensity as the integrated intensity over the 400-700 nm waveband (photosynthetic active radiation, PAR). However, far-red light (700-750 nm, FR) also drives photosynthesis when supplied in addition to light within the PAR spectrum.

Building global collaborative research networks in paediatric critical care: a roadmap.

Paediatric critical care units are designed for children at a vulnerable stage of development, yet the evidence base for practice and policy in paediatric critical care remains scarce. In this Health Policy, we present a roadmap providing strategic guidance for international paediatric critical care trials. We convened a multidisciplinary group of 32 paediatric critical care experts from six continents representing paediatric critical care research networks and groups.

A prebiotic intervention improves mood in everyday life in healthy women but not in men: Exploratory results from a larger double-blind placebo controlled cross-over study.

Prebiotic dietary fiber (PDF) may reduce feelings of stress or improve mood in healthy individuals. Yet gut intervention studies that focus on mood in daily life are lacking and few studies include extensive biological sample analyses to gain mechanistic insights. As part of a larger randomized placebo-controlled crossover study including healthy individuals, we explored the effects of 12 weeks of PDF (acacia gum and carrot powder) on everyday mood, as measured with ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Known from trees and the tropics: new insights into the species complex.

The species complex (FLSC) currently comprises 11 phylogenetic species, including accepted names such as , , and , which have mostly been reported in association with citrus and coffee. Many varieties were documented by Wollenweber & Reinking (1935), which is indicative of a wider diversity of species within this group. The lack of type material in some cases, especially for the older names, means that definition by molecular phylogeny is very difficult.

New from opposite ends of the world.

The is a group of ancient fungi with global distribution. In the current study we accessed mucoralean fungi isolated from two countries on opposite sides of the Earth and in different hemispheres: South Korea and Brazil. isolates were obtained from freshwater, soil, invertebrates, and fruit seeds and identified using phenotypic techniques combined with the DNA sequence data.

: an important genus of canker pathogens.

species have commonly been reported as important plant pathogenic fungi with wide host ranges and geographic distributions. With the increase in the number of cryptic species being described, a comprehensive global taxonomic revision of the genus is required. The present study includes 399 isolates from 32 countries.

High-throughput platform for label-free sorting of 3D spheroids using deep learning.

End-stage liver diseases have an increasing impact worldwide, exacerbated by the shortage of transplantable organs. Recognized as one of the promising solutions, tissue engineering aims at recreating functional tissues and organs . The integration of bioprinting technologies with biological 3D models, such as multi-cellular spheroids, has enabled the fabrication of tissue constructs that better mimic complex structures and functionality of organs.

Diaphragm injuries in a mature trauma system: still a diagnostic challenge.

Background: A traumatic diaphragm defect is a rare injury. A missed diaphragm injury may cause serious morbidity and mortality. Detection rate during the first assessment of trauma patients is notoriously low.

Hypertension and orthostatic hypotension in the elderly: a challenging balance.

Hypertension and orthostatic hypotension (OH) frequently coexist in the older population, both stemming from impaired blood pressure (BP) regulation. Managing hypertension in patients with OH presents a significant clinical challenge, particularly in frail older adults who are also prone to falls. Hypertension treatment is often suboptimal in this population due to concerns over the potential increased risk of falls associated with treatment.