Development of PCR Blocking Primers Enabling DNA Metabarcoding Analysis of Dietary Composition in Hematophagous Sea Lamprey.

Conventional dietary assessments are challenging in hematophagous species, particularly in sea lamprey (). However, recent technological developments and molecular approaches have provided an attractive alternative through the use of DNA metabarcoding. While DNA metabarcoding has been used for dietary analyses in numerous species, including lampreys, applications of universal primers that detect a diverse set of prey items can be limited by the amplification of predator DNA.

The COMBAT Project: study protocol for the development of a core outcome set for morbidity following surgery in paediatric brain tumour patients.

Background: Central nervous system tumours affecting the brain and spine are the most common solid tumour site in the paediatric population and the most common causes of cancer death in children and young people. They are associated with high morbidity both from the tumour and the interventions used to treat them. Postoperative morbidity reporting following surgery for paediatric brain tumours is poor.

Pharmacokinetics of Sulbactam/Durlobactam in a Patient With Acute Renal Failure, Severe Obesity, and Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Bacteremia: A Case Report.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) are difficult-to-treat pathogens that primarily cause health care-associated infections. Sulbactam/durlobactam (SUL/DUR) is a novel antibiotic combination that is uniquely formulated to target CRAB isolates. However, investigations of SUL/DUR's pharmacokinetics in obese patients are limited.

Experimental demonstration of logical magic state distillation.

Realizing universal fault-tolerant quantum computation is a key goal in quantum information science [1, 2, 3, 4]. By encoding quantum information into logical qubits utilizing quantum error correcting codes, physical errors can be detected and corrected, enabling substantial reduction in logical error rates [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. However, the set of logical operations that can be easily implemented on such encoded qubits is often constrained [12, 1], necessitating the use of special resource states known as 'magic states' [13] to implement universal, classically hard circuits [14].

Optimising Radiation Dose Estimation: UNSCEAR DAP-to-ED Conversion in Uterine Artery Embolisation.

Introduction: Radiographers and physicians working in interventional radiology (IR) departments are responsible for monitoring and optimising radiation dose exposure to both patients and staff. The dose-area product (DAP) is a common measurement of radiation output but does not directly correlate with stochastic risks. Pre-determined conversion factors allow estimation of effective dose (ED) for IR procedures to better assess radiation exposure risks.

High-Throughput Screening of Potent Drug-like Molecules Targeting 17β-HSD10 for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Cancer.

In this study, the first industrial-scale high-throughput screening of nearly 350,000 drug-like molecules targeting the enzyme 17β-HSD10, a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease and cancers, is presented. Two novel series of potent 17β-HSD10 inhibitors that demonstrate low nanomolar potency against both the enzyme and cellular assays with minimal cytotoxicity were identified. These inhibitors were characterized further through a series of assays demonstrating ligand-protein interactions and co-crystallography, revealing un-/non-competitive inhibition with respect to the cofactor NADH, unlike previously published inhibitors.

A sexual health continuing education quality assurance project: enhancing oncosexology competence in interdisciplinary cancer care providers.

Purpose: Sexual health needs of cancer patients are often left unaddressed by providers. Providers cite their lack of knowledge on the topic as a primary barrier to initiating discussions about sexual health with patients. The current paper was a quality assurance project, evaluating the "Sexual Health and Cancer" course, which is part of the Interdisciplinary Online Distance Education (IPODE) program.

Operationalizing postmortem pathology-MRI association studies in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders with MRI-guided histology sampling.

Postmortem neuropathological examination, while the gold standard for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases, often relies on limited regional sampling that may miss critical areas affected by Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Ultra-high resolution postmortem MRI can help identify regions that fall outside the diagnostic sampling criteria for additional histopathologic evaluation. However, there are no standardized guidelines for integrating histology and MRI in a traditional brain bank.

Laser lithotripsy of a brushite crystalline aggregate stone model: fragment distribution vs. BegoStone and human stones.

Laser research is hampered by a lack of accurate stone models that replicate fragmentation during laser lithotripsy. We sought to assess the distribution of stone fragments from laser ablation of new brushite crystalline powder and brushite crystalline aggregate stone models and compare with human stones and BegoStone. Samples of 15:3 and 15:5 BegoStone, powder, and aggregate model stones were tested alongside human CHPD and COM stone samples.

Highly efficient and rapid dechlorination of polyvinyl chloride via microwave pyrolysis.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste recycling is challenging due to its high chlorine content, which generates hazardous chlorinated pollutants if treated improperly. A safe and promising PVC dechlorination method is urgently needed to address this issue. Several dechlorination methods have been reported at the laboratory scale; however, each method has its downsides, and none has been proven at the commercial scale.

Optimizing a photon absorber using conformal cooling channels and additive manufacturing in copper.

Many of the 70 synchrotron facilities worldwide are undergoing upgrades to their infrastructure to meet a growing demand for increased beam brightness with nanometre-level stability. These upgrades increase the mechanical and thermal challenges faced by beamline components, creating opportunities to apply novel methodologies and manufacturing processes to optimize hardware performance and beam accuracy. Absorbers are important beamline components that rely on water-cooled channels to absorb thermal energy from excess light caused by synchrotron radiation or photon beams created by insertion devices, all within a limited volume, to protect downstream equipment and ensure safe, reliable operation.

Context-dependent Interactors Regulate TDP-43 Dysfunction in ALS/FTLD.

TDP-43 mislocalization, aggregation, and loss of splicing function are neuropathological hallmarks in over 97% of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), 45% of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), and 60% of Alzheimer's Disease, which has been reclassified as LATE-NC. However, the mechanisms underlying TDP-43 dysfunction remain elusive. Here, we utilize APEX2-driven proximity labeling and mass spectrometry to characterize the context-dependent TDP-43 interactome in conditions of cytoplasmic mislocalization, impaired RNA-binding contributing to aggregation, and oxidative stress.

Traumatic brain injury or head impacts from contact sports are associated with tau astrogliopathy.

Exposure to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or repetitive head impacts (RHI) increase the risk of a range of neurodegenerative pathologies, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change (CTE-NC). Astrocytic tau pathology reminiscent of ageing-related tau astrogliopathy is a component feature of CTE-NC in many cases. Yet the relationship between TBI/RHI exposure and wider tau astrogliopathy, beyond that of CTE-NC, remains poorly characterized.

Labeling of Pathogenic Tau Using Photo-Affinity Chemical Probes.

Tau aggregation plays a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Developing specific techniques that can isolate pathogenic tau from brain tissue is important for understanding tauopathies and advancing targeted therapies. Here, we develop photoaffinity small molecular probes and a novel method for tissue labeling and investigate their activity in interacting with tau in cells and AD patient brains.

Optimization of Cyclophilin B-Targeted Tri-vector Inhibitors for Novel MASH Treatments.

Cyclophilins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Pharmacological inhibition of the cyclophilin B isoform has the potential to attenuate liver fibrosis in MASH, but current cyclophilin inhibitors in clinical trials lack isoform selectivity. We previously reported the novel tri-vector small-molecule inhibitor that exhibited improved subtype selectivity by simultaneously engaging three pockets on the surface of cyclophilins.

Association of Plasma Biomarkers With Longitudinal Atrophy and Microvascular Burden on MRI Across Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Background And Objectives: Plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer disease (AD), neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration are increasingly being used in clinical trials for diagnosis and monitoring of dementia. However, their association with longitudinal structural brain MRI changes, an important outcome measure across neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases, is less known. We investigated how baseline plasma biomarkers reflect MRI markers of progression over time in patients with neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases.

Calcium modulating ligand confers risk for Parkinson's disease and impacts lysosomes.

Objective: Several genetic loci known to confer risk for Parkinson's disease (PD) function in lysosomal pathways. We systematically screened common variants linked to PD risk by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for impact on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins reflecting lysosomal function.

Methods: Starting with 525 candidate gene-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) pairs nominated by Mendelian randomization from published PD GWAS, we filtered SNPs for downstream evaluation, based on strength of association with PD and impact on brain gene expression.

Characterizing stone ablation with the thulium fiber laser: a single-pulse comparison of different pulse durations.

Stone ablation using the thulium fiber laser (TFL) at different pulse duration/peak power or laser fiber-to-stone distances requires further research to understand effective and safe settings. In this study we characterized the vapor bubble anatomy and stone crater morphology at various settings and standoff distances. Optical profiles of 1 J short pulse (SP), 1 J long pulse (LP), 3 J SP, and 2.

Impact of Hypoalbuminemia on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Receiving Cefazolin for Methicillin-Susceptible Bacteremia.

Background: Cefazolin is a preferred treatment option for methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) bacteremia. Recent studies have suggested a potential impact on clinical outcomes in patients with hypoalbuminemia treated with highly protein-bound antimicrobials.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there are any differences in clinical outcomes between normoalbuminemic and hypoalbuminemic patients treated with cefazolin for bacteremia.

Impact of COVID-19 on Thrombotic Complications in Microsurgery: Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Outcomes Amid Pandemic.

Background: Emerging research underscores the heightened risk of vasculitis and microvascular thrombosis in COVID-19 patients, alongside concerns about prothrombotic events post-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination. Following the pandemic's end, we sought a comprehensive analysis to elucidate its impact on microsurgical thrombosis rates, informed by empirical and anecdotal evidence.

Methods: An institutional review board-approved retrospective review analyzed autologous breast reconstruction cases in women from January 2019 to March 2022.

International Expert-Based Consensus Definition, Classification Criteria, and Minimum Data Elements for Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw: An Interdisciplinary Modified Delphi Study.

Purpose: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is a severe iatrogenic disease characterized by bone death after radiation therapy to the head and neck. With >9 published definitions and at least 16 classification systems, the true incidence and severity of ORNJ are obscured by lack of a standard for disease definition and severity assessment, leading to inaccurate estimation of incidence, reporting ambiguity, and likely underdiagnosis worldwide. This study aimed to achieve consensus on an explicit definition and phenotype of ORNJ and related precursor states through data standardization to facilitate effective diagnosis, monitoring, and multidisciplinary management of ORNJ.

Oral blood pressure augmenting agents for intravenous vasopressor weaning.

Intravenous (IV) vasopressors are essential in the management of hypotension and shock. Initiation of oral vasoactive agents to facilitate weaning of IV vasopressors to liberate patients from the intensive care unit is common despite conflicting evidence regarding the benefits of this practice. While midodrine appears to be the most frequently studied oral vasoactive agent for this purpose, its adverse effect profile may preclude its use in certain populations.

Development of a metabolome-based respiratory infection prognostic during COVID-19 arrival.

In a new respiratory virus pandemic, optimizing allocation of scarce medical resources becomes an urgent challenge. Infection prognosis takes on particular importance when allocating scarce antiviral antibodies and drugs, which are most effective when administered before the onset of severe disease. During arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to the United States in 2020, we conducted a prognostic biomarker discovery and validation effort based upon metabolomic profiling with a liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) type used clinically for rapid toxicology.

A randomized controlled trial of an online support group addressing psychosexual distress among women treated for gynecologic cancer.

Objective: To assess whether a 12-week, professionally facilitated, asynchronous online support group would reduce sexual distress (primary outcome) and improve sexual function, body image, depression symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and social support (secondary outcomes) in women treated for gynecologic cancer.

Methods: Participants were 398 women recruited from three Canadian provinces and one American cancer center in cohorts of 40. Participants were randomized (50:50 odds) to either the immediate treatment condition (ITC) or the waitlist control condition (WCC).