Syncope is associated with multidimensional frailty in older adults.

Background: Multidimensional frailty and syncope are common in older adults, yet their relationship remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study, involving outpatients who underwent Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, aims to evaluate the relationship between frailty and syncope. Patients were classified as fit/light frail, moderate frail or severe frail based on their fr-AGILE score.

Extrachromosomal DNA-Driven Oncogene Dosage Heterogeneity Promotes Rapid Adaptation to Therapy in MYCN-Amplified Cancers.

Unlabelled: Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) amplification enhances intercellular oncogene dosage variability and accelerates tumor evolution by violating foundational principles of genetic inheritance through its asymmetric mitotic segregation. Spotlighting high-risk neuroblastoma, we demonstrate how ecDNA amplification undermines the clinical efficacy of current therapies in cancers with extrachromosomal MYCN amplification. Integrating theoretical models of oncogene copy number-dependent fitness with single-cell ecDNA quantification and phenotype analyses, we reveal that ecDNA copy-number heterogeneity drives phenotypic diversity and determines treatment sensitivity through mechanisms unattainable by chromosomal oncogene amplification.

A Forcecardiography dataset with simultaneous SCG, Heart Sounds, ECG, and Respiratory signals.

FOSTER is the first ever publicly available dataset of forcecardiography (FCG) signals with simultaneous recordings of conventional seismocardiography (SCG), phonocardiography (PCG), electrocardiography (ECG), and respiratory signals. The dataset contains recordings from 40 participants (20 males and 20 females) and aims to foster and facilitate research on non-invasive cardio-respiratory monitoring using mechanical sensors. All signals were acquired simultaneously to ensure precise temporal alignment for accurate analysis.

Proneural-Mesenchymal hybrid glioblastoma cells are resistant to therapy and dependent on nuclear import.

Background: Despite extensive research efforts, glioblastoma (GBM) remains a deadly disease with poor prognosis. Although previous studies have identified various cell states within GBM tumors, the molecular mechanism underlying adaptive GBM cell plasticity induced by conventional therapy remains unclear.

Methods: We used fluorescent reporters for proneural (PN) and mesenchymal (MES) subtypes to monitor GBM cell plasticity in real-time across multiple patient-derived cell lines.

[The long journey of treatment of congenital heart disease].

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the leading congenital anomalies in humans, with approximately 1.3 million worldwide cases each year. In the past, they were one of the leading causes of infant mortality, and only 15% of patients in the 1940s and 1950s reached adulthood.

Metabolic traits shape responses to LSD1-directed therapy in glioblastoma tumor-initiating cells.

Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (LSD1) is an epigenetic regulator involved in various biological processes, including metabolic pathways. We demonstrated the therapeutic potential of its pharmacological inhibition in glioblastoma using DDP_38003 (LSD1i), which selectively targets tumor-initiating cells (TICs) by hampering their adaptability to stress. Through biological, metabolic, and omic approaches, we now show that LSD1i acts as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor, activating the integrated stress response and altering mitochondrial structure and function.

Review of Electrohydraulic Actuators Inspired by the HASEL Actuator.

The muscle-like movement and speed of the electrohydraulic actuator have granted it much attention in soft robotics. Our aim is to review the advancements in electrohydraulic actuators inspired by the Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing Electrostatic (HASEL) actuator. With this paper, we focus on the performance of 21 electrohydraulic actuator designs developed across five Universities, ranging from the earliest HASEL designs to the latest electrohydraulic designs.

A Flexible PVDF Sensor for Forcecardiography.

Forcecardiography (FCG) uses force sensors to record the mechanical vibrations induced on the chest wall by cardiac and respiratory activities. FCG is usually performed via piezoelectric lead-zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors, which simultaneously record the very slow respiratory movements of the chest, the slow infrasonic vibrations due to emptying and filling of heart chambers, the faster infrasonic vibrations due to movements of heart valves, which are usually recorded via Seismocardiography (SCG), and the audible vibrations corresponding to heart sounds, commonly recorded via Phonocardiography (PCG). However, PZT sensors are not flexible and do not adapt very well to the deformations of soft tissues on the chest.

Oncofetal reprogramming drives phenotypic plasticity in WNT-dependent colorectal cancer.

Targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) is crucial for effective cancer treatment, yet resistance mechanisms to LGR5 CSC depletion in WNT-driven colorectal cancer (CRC) remain elusive. In the present study, we revealed that mutant intestinal stem cells (SCs) depart from their canonical identity, traversing a dynamic phenotypic spectrum. This enhanced plasticity is initiated by oncofetal (OnF) reprogramming, driven by YAP and AP-1, with subsequent AP-1 hyperactivation promoting lineage infidelity.

Effect of Brief Electrical Stimulation on Cell Biomechanics in Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy.

SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are widely used to model neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy type 1A (HSN-1A), a peripheral nerve condition causing axon degeneration and sensory loss. A cell model of HSN-1A is developed by overexpressing wild-type and mutant SPTLC1 genes (C133W, C133Y, V144D). Cells are cultured on plastic and gold substrates, with brief electrical stimulation applied to the gold-grown cells.

Coding and non-coding transcripts modulated by transparent and blue PET micro-nanoplastics in Arabidopsis thaliana.

To get further insights on the micro-nanoplastic (MNP) effects on plants, the aim of this study was to evaluate the response of hydroponically cultivated Arabidopsis thaliana to the presence of differentially colored polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles. MNP impacts on the root organ were studied at a molecular level, with a special focus on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAS) in the regulation of gene expression after PET exposure. MNPs of transparent (Tr-PET) and blue (Bl-PET) material at environmentally realistic concentration caused a significant reduction in root length, while only Bl-PET significantly reduced rosette area.

Postoperative Outcomes of Fontan Operation in a Multicenter Italian Study. How Far Have We Gone? Early Outcomes After Fontan Operation.

Despite the clinical results of the Fontan operation have certainly improved, it still presents with an inherent surgical risk of death and early morbidities. This is a retrospective clinical study of children undergoing Fontan operation in 9 congenital cardiac centers in Italy between 1990 and 2023. Clinical and surgical data were collected via a dedicated RedCap database.

Recent Innovations in Footwear and the Role of Smart Footwear in Healthcare-A Survey.

Smart shoes have ushered in a new era of personalised health monitoring and assistive technologies. Smart shoes leverage technologies such as Bluetooth for data collection and wireless transmission, and incorporate features such as GPS tracking, obstacle detection, and fitness tracking. As the 2010s unfolded, the smart shoe landscape diversified and advanced rapidly, driven by sensor technology enhancements and smartphones' ubiquity.

Performance and Failure of Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit in Congenital Heart Disease.

Surgical implantation of a right ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit is an important component of congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery, but with limited durability, leading to re-intervention. The present single-center, retrospective, cohort study reports the results of surgically implanted RV-PA conduits in a consecutive series of children and adults with CHD. Patients with CHD referred for RV-PA conduit surgical implantation (from October 1997 to January 2022) were included.

Cell States in Cancer: Drivers, Passengers, and Trailers.

Summary: Cancer is traditionally perceived through a genetic lens, with therapeutic strategies targeting oncogenic driver mutations. We advocate an overarching framework recognizing tumors as comprising driver, passenger, and trailer cell states: Tailoring therapies to simultaneously target driver genetics and cell states may enhance effectiveness and durability.

Significance: We redefine cancer progression by introducing a model that categorizes tumor cells into "driver," "passenger," and "trailer" phenotypes, expanding the focus on genetic aberrations to cellular behavior.

Chronic kidney disease and orthostatic hypotension in hospitalised older adults.

Purpose: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) may predispose older adults to health complications leading to functional impairment. Despite the central role of the kidney in blood pressure control, the contribution of renal function in orthostatic hypotension is poorly investigated. To verify the association between Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and OH a population of hospitalised elderly patients with comorbidities was studied.

Clonal dominance defines metastatic dissemination in pancreatic cancer.

Tumors represent ecosystems where subclones compete during tumor growth. While extensively investigated, a comprehensive picture of the interplay of clonal lineages during dissemination is still lacking. Using patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells, we created orthotopically implanted clonal replica tumors to trace clonal dynamics of unperturbed tumor expansion and dissemination.

Logical design of synthetic cis-regulatory DNA for genetic tracing of cell identities and state changes.

Descriptive data are rapidly expanding in biomedical research. Instead, functional validation methods with sufficient complexity remain underdeveloped. Transcriptional reporters allow experimental characterization and manipulation of developmental and disease cell states, but their design lacks flexibility.

Impact of preoperative left pulmonary artery stenting on the Fontan procedure: a retrospective multicentre study.

Objectives: Left pulmonary artery (LPA) or bifurcation stenoses at Fontan palliation can be very challenging to treat and may also require cardioplegia and aortic transection. Moreover, the low pressure of Fontan circulation and the bulkiness of the aorta increase the risk of a patch angioplasty collapse. Pre-Fontan LPA stenting of stenotic LPAs overcomes those drawbacks therefore the present study aimed to evaluate its advantageous impact on Fontan surgery.

Arterial and venous peripheral vascular assessment using wearable electro-resistive morphic sensors.

Peripheral vascular diseases (PVDs) represent a significant burden on global human health and healthcare systems. With continued growth in obesity and diabetes, it is likely that the incidence of these conditions will increase. As many PVDs remain undiagnosed, low-cost and easy to use diagnostic methods are required.

A Mutation-driven oncofetal regression fuels phenotypic plasticity in colorectal cancer.

Targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) is crucial for effective cancer treatment . However, the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to LGR5 CSCs depletion in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely elusive. Here, we unveil the existence of a primitive cell state dubbed the oncofetal (OnF) state, which works in tandem with the LGR5 stem cells (SCs) to fuel tumor evolution in CRC.

Combined Cardiac and Respiratory Monitoring from a Single Signal: A Case Study Employing the Fantasia Database.

This study proposes a novel method for obtaining the electrocardiogram (ECG) derived respiration (EDR) from a single lead ECG and respiration-derived cardiogram (RDC) from a respiratory stretch sensor. The research aims to reconstruct the respiration waveform, determine the respiration rate from ECG QRS heartbeat complexes data, locate heartbeats, and calculate a heart rate (HR) using the respiration signal. The accuracy of both methods will be evaluated by comparing located QRS complexes and inspiration maxima to reference positions.

The concept of cone creation to treat isolated tricuspid valve dysplasia and the case of a double-orifice tricuspid valve.

Objectives: Isolated tricuspid valve dysplasia is a rare disease characterized by a wide spectrum of possible anomalies. We describe the use of the Cone concept to treat a patient with a double-orifice tricuspid valve with massive regurgitation and severe deficit of coaptation.

Methods: Three adult patients with congenital non-Ebstein tricuspid valve anomaly characterized by severe coaptation deficiency underwent tricuspid valve repair applying the Cone technique.

Complete Isolation of Left Innominate Artery in a Patient With CHARGE Syndrome: Case Presentation and Review of Reported Cases.

We report a rare case of complete isolation of the left innominate artery in a child with CHARGE (coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae, growth retardation, genital abnormalities, and ear abnormalities) syndrome. This anatomical cluster had been undetected for a relatively large period of time and the patient was referred to us with an incomplete diagnosis even after multiple medical evaluations and a thoracic surgery during the neonatal period. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a complete isolation of left innominate artery treated with a transcatheter approach.