Management and outcome of children with high-risk neuroblastoma: insights from the Spanish Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (SEHOP) neuroblastoma group on refractory and relapse/progressive disease.

Purpose: Outcome for children with refractory and relapse/progressive high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) remains poor, without an internationally agreed standard second-line approach. Heterogeneity in patients' disease and treatment strategies challenges clinical management. The survival rate for patients with resistant disease does not exceed 20% at 5 years.

Metabolomics in Pathogenic Pathways and Targeted Therapies for Diabetic Neuropathy: A Comprehensive Review.

Introduction And Objective: This literature review aims to provide an overview of the progress in metabolomic assessment in animal and cell models and in humans with diabetic neuropathy (DN).

Methods: Metabolomics has emerged as an important approach for investigating, identifying, and describing biomarkers related to DN. None has yet been validated for use in clinical practice.

The bacterial microbiome modulates the initiation of brain metastasis by impacting the gut-to-brain axis.

Brain metastases (BrMs) are the most common brain tumors in patients and are associated with poor prognosis. Investigating the systemic and environmental factors regulating BrM biology represents an important strategy to develop effective treatments. Toward this goal, we explored the contribution of the gut microbiome to BrM development by using breast-BrM models under germ-free conditions or antibiotic treatment.

Safety and Efficacy of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in Older Adults with Variable Disease States: A Meta-analysis of Large Placebo-Controlled Trials.

Background: Recent guidelines recommend the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients suffering from cardiorenal diseases. However, the safety and efficacy of SGLT2i in older adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure (HF), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unclear.

Methods: Online databases were queried from inception to 11 July 2023 to identify primary or secondary analyses for inclusion.

EUFOREA meeting on defining disease states in allergic rhinitis: towards a unified language in AR.

Allergic rhinitis (AR), the most prevalent immunological disease, affects approximately 400 million individuals globally and can significantly impact quality of life (QoL). Despite nearly 25 years of guidelines, AR remains largely under- diagnosed, suboptimally treated and poorly controlled. In the light of new knowledge and treatment options, there is a necessity to update or revise fundamental AR definitions to facilitate communication across diverse specialties engaged in its treatment and to improve patient care.

CAR-macrophage therapy for HER2-overexpressing advanced solid tumors: a phase 1 trial.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) macrophages (CAR-Ms) mediate antitumor immunity via phagocytosis, cytokine release, activation of the tumor microenvironment and antigen presentation. We report results from a non-prespecified interim analysis of a first-in-human, phase 1 clinical trial of CT-0508, an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) CAR-M in patients with advanced HER2-overexpressing tumors. Fourteen patients were treated across two different regimens.

Allogeneic off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies.

Despite clinical benefit with the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, the need to manufacture patient-specific products limits its clinical utility. To overcome this barrier, we developed an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" CAR T-cell product using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cells (EBV-VSTs) genetically modified with a CD19-specific CAR (19-28z). Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies were stratified into 3 treatment cohorts: cohort 1 (n = 8; disease recurrence after allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation [HCT]), cohort 2 (n = 6; consolidative therapy after autologous HCT), or cohort 3 (n = 2; consolidative therapy after allogeneic HCT).

Revealing the chemical compatibility of common solvents and electrolytes with MoTiC-based MXenes and their interfaces in aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) through first-principles molecular dynamics simulations.

Using the first-principles molecular dynamics simulations and CI-NEB calculations, we performed a systematic and comprehensive investigation on the chemical compatibility of various solvents (carbonate esters, aromatic solvents, ethers, carboxylic esters, water, DMSO and ionic liquids) and electrolytes (DMC-Al(OTF), DME-Al(OTF), GBL-Al(OTF), HO-Al(SO), DMSO-Al(OTF), [EMIm]Cl-[AlCl] and urea-AlCl) with MoTiC-based MXenes, evaluating their possible use as solvents, additives and electrolytes in aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs). Among the investigated solvents, carbonate ester (DMC), chain ether (DME), aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene), chain carboxylic ester (GBL), DMSO, ionic liquids ([EMIm]Cl, [DMPI]Cl and [BMP]Cl) and urea showed very low reactivity towards both bare MoTiC and Al-terminated structures (MoTiCAl and MoTiCAl monolayers), indicating their excellent chemical compatibility between these solvents and the MXene cathode. Besides the MoTiC monolayer, a relatively low chemical reactivity was predicted for Al-terminated MXenes after their contact with almost all the solvents considered in this work, even with the relatively more reactive carbonate esters (PC and EC) and ethers (G2 and THF).

Decomposition of Binary Mixtures of DMC/EC, EMC/EC, and DEC/EC on Potassium Surfaces; GC, XPS, and Calculation.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have emerged as promising candidates for low-cost, high-energy storage systems, driven by their fast ionic conductivity and high operating voltage. To develop advanced KIBs, the performance is usually evaluated in half-cell tests using highly reactive potassium metal, which often leads to misinterpretation of the results due to degradation processes between metal anode and electrolyte components. Here, we systematically investigated the surface reactivity of potassium metal, which is in contact with commonly used solvent combinations, namely, mixtures of ethylene carbonate and linear bis(alkyl)carbonates.

Basket study of oral progesterone antagonist onapristone extended-release in combination with anastrozole in progesterone receptor-positive recurrent adult-type granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Objective: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of the oral progesterone antagonist onapristone in combination with anastrozole in patients with recurrent progesterone receptor-positive adult-type granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Methods: This was a single-institution phase II study of patients with progesterone receptor-positive adult-type granulosa cell tumor who received at least 1 prior line of chemotherapy. Patients were enrolled from November 2021 to August 2022 and tissue was evaluated for progesterone receptor status via immunohistochemistry.

Unveiling the trends: Growing cancer and venous thromboembolism mortality in older adults in the United States, 1999-2020.

Background: While cancer mortality rates in the United States (U.S.) have decreased due to advances in chemotherapy, older adults with cancer face an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Encorafenib, cetuximab and chemotherapy in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial.

Encorafenib + cetuximab (EC) is approved for previously treated BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) based on the BEACON phase 3 study. Historically, first-line treatment of BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC with chemotherapy regimens has had limited efficacy. The phase 3 BREAKWATER study investigated EC+mFOLFOX6 versus standard of care (SOC) in patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E mCRC.

A randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pramipexole in addition to mood stabilisers for patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (the PAX-BD study).

Background: Options for 'treatment-resistant bipolar depression' (TRBD) are limited. Two small, short-term, trials of pramipexole suggest it might be an option.

Aims: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of pramipexole in the management of TRBD.

Conformational Antibodies to Proteolipid Protein-1 and Its Peripheral Isoform DM20 in Patients With CNS Autoimmune Demyelinating Disorders.

Background And Objectives: Antibodies to proteolipid protein-1 (PLP1-IgG), a major central myelin protein also expressed in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) as the isoform DM20, have been previously identified mostly in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), with unclear clinical implications. However, most studies relied on nonconformational immunoassays and included few patients with non-MS CNS autoimmune demyelinating disorders (ADDs). We aimed to investigate conformational PLP1-IgG in the whole ADD spectrum.

Functional genotype classification groups distinguish disease severity in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Background: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a genetic disorder caused by pathogenic variants in COL7A1.

Objectives: To determine the association between different COL7A1 variants and clinical disease severity in 236 North American patients with RDEB.

Methods: Published reports or in silico predictions were used to assess the impact of pathogenic variants in COL7A1 on type VII collagen (C7) protein function.

Genetic Mapping by 55K Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Array Reveals Candidate Genes for Tillering Trait in Wheat Mutant .

Background: The tiller number is a key agronomic trait for increasing the yield potential of wheat ( L.). A number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and key genes controlling tillering have been identified, but the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.

Optimizing transcutaneous spinal stimulation: excitability of evoked spinal reflexes is dependent on electrode montage.

Background: There is growing interest in use of transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) for people with neurologic conditions both to augment volitional control (by facilitating motoneuron excitability), and to decrease spasticity (by activating inhibitory networks). Various electrode montages are used during TSS, with little understanding of how electrode position influences spinal circuit activation. We sought to identify the thoracolumbar electrode montage associated with the most robust activation of spinal circuits by comparing posterior root-muscle reflexes (PRM reflexes) elicited by 6 montages.

MAT2A inhibitor AG-270/S095033 in patients with advanced malignancies: a phase I trial.

Homozygous MTAP deletion occurs in ~15% of cancers, making them vulnerable to decreases in the concentration of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). AG-270/S095033 is an oral, potent, reversible inhibitor of methionine adenosyltransferase 2 A (MAT2A), the enzyme primarily responsible for the synthesis of SAM. We report results from the first-in-human, phase 1 trial of AG-270/S095033 as monotherapy in patients with advanced malignancies (ClinicalTrials.

Enhancing Quasi-Solid-State Lithium-Metal Battery Performance: Multi-Interlayer, Melt-Infused Lithium and Lithiophilic Coating Strategies for Interfacial Stability in Li||VS-DSGNS-LATP|PEO-PVDF||NMC622-AlO Systems.

The development of quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries (QSSLMBs) is hindered by inadequate interfacial contact, poor wettability between electrodes and quasi-solid-state electrolytes, and significant volume changes during long-term cycling, leading to safety risks and cataclysmic failures. Here, we report an innovative approach to enhance interfacial properties through the construction of QSSLMBs. A multilayer design integrates a microwave-synthesized LiAlTi(PO) (LATP) ceramic electrolyte, which is surface-coated with a lithiophilic conductive ink comprising VS and disulfonated functionalized graphene nanosheets (VS-DSGNS) using a low-cost nail-polish binder.

De-escalating and discontinuing disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis.

The development of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been highly successful in recent decades. It is now widely accepted that early initiation of DMTs after disease onset is associated with a better long-term prognosis. However, the question of when and how to de-escalate or discontinue DMTs remains open and critical.

Morphine and P2Y12 Inhibitors in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

Background: Morphine is used to control pain in ST-elevation myocardial infarction but reduces P2Y12 inhibition. It is not known if this modulation of platelet inhibition appreciably affects clinical outcomes.

Methods: We screened 979 articles and identified seven studies that met the eligibility criteria for meta-analysis.

Effects of Cosolvent and Nonsolvating Solvent on the Structural Dynamics of Organic Electrolytes in Sodium-Ion Batteries.

In sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), the performance of a single solvent often does not meet actual requirements and a cosolvent or nonsolvating solvent is needed. However, the effect of these electrolyte additives on the solvation structure and dynamics of Na in SIBs is yet to be fully understood. Herein, electrolyte structural dynamics are examined for NaPF in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy ethane (HFE) as the nonsolvating solvent or propylene carbonate (PC) as the cosolvent using steady-state and time-resolved infrared (IR) spectroscopies.

A shot through the heart: a case report on retained bullet causing cardiac tamponade.

Background: As a rare complication of penetrating chest trauma, one can occasionally find foreign bodies inside the pericardium. Even rarer is finding an intact bullet inside the pericardial cavity following the gunshot injury.

Case Summary: A 17-year-old male presented to the emergency department as a Level 1 trauma for multiple gunshot wounds.

Diagnostic Performance of Clinical and Routine Laboratory Data in Acute Mesenteric Arterial Occlusion-An International Multicenter Study.

Background: There are no clinical or laboratory markers that can diagnose acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) accurately. This study aimed to find differences in clinical and laboratory markers between arterial occlusive AMI and other acute abdominal diseases where AMI was initially suspected.

Methods: This was a post hoc study of an international prospective multicenter study where data on patients with suspected AMI were collected.