Gene dysregulation impairs placental angiogenesis in allogeneic pig pregnancies.

Embryo transfer (ET) is a valuable reproductive technology in pigs, albeit its efficiency remains significantly lower than that of natural mating or artificial insemination (AI), owing to high embryonic death rates. Critical for embryo survival and pregnancy success is the placenta, which supports conceptus development through nutrient exchange, hormone production, and immune modulation. Alterations in placental development and function may therefore underlie the reduced efficiency of ET.

Small Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers in Sarcoma Follow-Up: Protocol for a Prospective, Multicentric Pilot Study.

Background: Sarcomas are rare cancer with a heterogeneous group of tumors. They affect both genders across all age groups and present significant heterogeneity, with more than 70 histological subtypes. Despite tailored treatments, the high metastatic potential of sarcomas remains a major factor in poor patient survival, as metastasis is often the leading cause of death.

Nationwide Insights on Immunotherapy in a Low- and Middle-Income Country: Armenia's Struggle for Equitable Cancer Care in an Out-of-Pocket System.

Purpose: In Armenia, a lower-middle-income country, cancer causes 21% of all deaths, with over half of cases diagnosed at advanced stages. Without universal health insurance, patients rely on out-of-pocket payments or black-market channels for costly immunotherapies, underscoring the need for real-world data to inform equitable policy reforms.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients who received at least one dose of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) between January 2017 and December 2023 across six Armenian oncology centers.

Challenges and Opportunities in Head and Neck Cancer Research in Developing Countries: Insights From a Fireside Chat.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a significant public health burden in developing countries, where access to early diagnosis, comprehensive care, and research infrastructure is limited. This article synthesizes the insights generated during a Fireside Chat convened by members of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG)-Head and Neck and the Brazilian Group of Head and Neck Cancer (GBCP), with the participation of international expert Professor Hisham Mehanna. The discussion addressed key challenges and opportunities in clinical and translational research within resource-constrained settings.

A Novel CART-Driven Decision Tree Combining NLR and CRP for Early Prognostication of Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Prospective Vietnamese Cohort Study.

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a life-threatening condition requiring early risk stratification. While the Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) is widely used, its reliance on complex parameters limits its applicability in resource-constrained settings. This study introduces a decision tree model based on Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis, utilizing Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and C-reactive Protein (CRP), as a simpler alternative for early SAP prediction.

Natural history and development of a novel composite endpoint in patients with alcohol-associated Hepatitis: Data from a prospective multicenter study.

Background: The clinical course and outcomes of alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) remain poorly understood. Major adverse liver outcomes (MALO) do not capture the added risk of return to drinking (RTD). We examined the natural history of AH and developed a composite endpoint using a contemporary observational cohort of AH.

CaOx crystal nuclei are formed in rat outer cortex proximal tubules by a potential fibrinogen-dependent mechanism.

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones are prevalent in urinary tract stone disease. While their formation can be induced in rats by administering ethylene glycol and vitamin D, the initial nucleation and formation processes are unclear. Here, we aimed to determine where CaOx crystals initially form, examine the associated histological and morphological changes, and clarify the genes whose expression varies at those sites and their function.

ICTUSCOG: Poststroke cognitive impairment following nondisabling stroke: Study protocol of a spanish multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability globally, with frequent cognitive sequelae affecting up to 60% of stroke survivors. Despite the high prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), early detection remains underemphasized in clinical practice, with limited focus on broader neuropsychological and affective symptoms. Stroke elevates dementia risk and may act as a trigger for progressive neurodegenerative diseases.

Interprofessional education: A recognized necessity, a persistent challenge - Perspectives from a longitudinal study.

Background: Interprofessional Education (IPE) is widely recognized as essential for fostering collaborative healthcare practices and improving patient outcomes. Despite its acknowledged importance, there remains a notable scarcity of longitudinal research assessing medical students' readiness for IPE across distinct educational stages, particularly within diverse global contexts like Brazil.

Aim: This study sought to address this gap by longitudinally mapping and analyzing the evolution of medical students' readiness for interprofessional learning throughout their academic training at a Brazilian university.

Cohort profile: The Multiethnic Lifestyle, Obesity and Diabetes Registry in Malaysia (MeLODY) retrospective cohort in a middle-income country in Southeast Asia.

There is a lack of longitudinal data on type 2 diabetes (T2D) in low- and middle-income countries. We leveraged the electronic health records (EHR) system of a publicly funded academic institution to establish a retrospective cohort with longitudinal data to facilitate benchmarking, surveillance, and resource planning of a multi-ethnic T2D population in Malaysia. This cohort included 15,702 adults aged ≥ 18 years with T2D who received outpatient care (January 2002-December 2020) from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Multi-sphere Cascade DNA Reaction Amplified "On-Super On-Off" PEC Sensor for Sensitive Detection of Pax-5a Gene.

Pax-5a gene, as a nucleic acid biomarker closely associated with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), holds significant potential for early disease diagnosis. In this study, we developed a highly accurate and efficient "on-super on-off" photoelectrochemical (PEC) biosensor based on a dual-photoelectrode heterojunction system integrated with a multisphere cascade DNA amplification strategy. The designed heterojunction dual-photoelectrode platform, comprising a InO/CdS photoanode (on state) and an in situ-formed MIL-68(In)/InO (MIO) photocathode, effectively extends the electron-hole transport pathway, enhances photogenerated charge separation, and produces high-amplitude signal output (super on state), thereby providing a robust baseline for signal transduction.

ift140-Deficient Zebrafish as a Model for Kidney Cystogenesis and an F0-Based Screen for Genetic Modifiers of Kidney Cysts.

Background: Genetic modifiers are believed to play an important role in the onset and severity of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), but identifying these modifiers has been challenging due to the lack of effective methodologies.

Methods: We generated zebrafish mutants of IFT140, a skeletal ciliopathy gene and newly identified autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) gene, to examine skeletal development and kidney cyst formation in larval and juvenile mutants. Additionally, we utilized ift140 crispants, generated through efficient microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ)-based genome editing, to compare phenotypes with mutants and conduct a pilot genetic modifier screen.

Early-Start vs. Late-Start Icodextrin for Children Receiving Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis: Findings from the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network.

Background: Experience with icodextrin use in children on long-term peritoneal dialysis is limited. We describe international icodextrin prescription practices and their impact on clinical outcomes: ultrafiltration, blood pressure control, residual kidney function (RKF), technique and patient survival.

Methods: We included patients under 21 years enrolled in the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network (IPPN) between 2007 and 2024, on automated PD with a daytime dwell.

Histologic Chorioamnionitis and Neurodevelopment in Preterm Infants.

Importance: Exposure to inflammation from chorioamnionitis places the fetus at higher risk of premature birth and may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, though the evidence for the latter is mixed.

Objective: To evaluate whether moderate to severe histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is directly associated with adverse motor performance, independent of the indirect mediating effects of premature birth.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective, population-based cohort study recruited participants between September 16, 2016, and November 19, 2019, from referral and nonreferral neonatal intensive care units of 5 southwestern Ohio hospitals.

Cervical Ripening in Pregnancy: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 9.

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to review current methods for cervical ripening and to summarize the effectiveness of these approaches based on appropriately conducted outcomes-based research. This document focuses on cervical ripening in individuals with term, singleton, vertex pregnancies with membranes intact, because this is the population in whom most studies were conducted. For more information on recommended timing of delivery based on maternal, fetal, and obstetric conditions and on labor management, refer to: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee Opinion No.

Correlation between visual function and corneal backscatter by Scheimpflug imaging or anterior segment optical coherence tomography in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Abtract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between corneal backscatter and visual function in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Methods: This study included 53 eyes from 38 patients with FECD.

HMGB1: a multifaceted mediator of cell death pathways in cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death globally, responsible for 32% of all fatalities. They significantly reduce quality of life and life expectancy, while imposing a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems in different countries. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a location-dependent multifunctional protein, plays a significant role in various cell death pathways associated with CVDs.

Clinical Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in the Portal Vein of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Anatomical Liver Resection.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) frequently invades the portal vein, leading to early recurrence and a poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms underlying this invasion remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to detect portal vein circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using a Glypican-3-positive detection method and evaluate their prognostic significance.

Assessing the knowledge of sports medicine physicians on idiopathic scoliosis: a national survey.

Background: Sports medicine physicians, like pediatricians and family physicians, are among the professionals who have the opportunity to assess healthy adolescents and conduct pre-participation evaluations. They can play a critical role in the early diagnosis of scoliosis and in ensuring that patients remain physically active and participate in sports activities. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of scoliosis assessment and the knowledge of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) among sports medicine physicians in Türkiye.

Carbon quantum dot-aptamer/MoS nanosheet fluorescent sensor for ultrasensitive, noninvasive cortisol detection.

This work presents the development of a highly sensitive, selective, and efficient aptamer-based fluorescent sensor for detecting cortisol in human urine. Carbon quantum dots-nucleic acid aptamer (CQDs-Apt) synthesized with excellent photoluminescent properties and stability, were selected as the fluorescent probe. In the presence of MoS-NSs, CQDs-Apt adsorbed onto the surface of MoS-NSs via electrostatic and π-π interactions, leading to strong and rapid fluorescence quenching due to static quenching mechanism between them.

[Type D personality style and back pain : A narrative overview of the relevance of psychosocial factors in orthopedic pain therapy].

Background: The Type D personality ("distressed personality") is characterized by a combination of negative affectivity and social inhibition. While this personality style was originally researched in the context of cardiovascular disease, recent studies also show a significant association with chronic pain disorders, especially back pain.

Objectives: This narrative review examines the current state of knowledge on the relationship between type D personality and back pain.

Evaluating the role of alpha cell dysregulation in the progression to type 2 diabetes using mathematical simulations.

Aims/hypothesis: Alpha cell dysregulation is an integral part of type 2 diabetes pathophysiology, increasing fasting as well as postprandial glucose concentrations. Alpha cell dysregulation occurs in tandem with the development of insulin resistance and changes in beta cell function. Our aim was to investigate, using mathematical modelling, the role of alpha cell dysregulation in beta cell compensatory insulin secretion and subsequent failure in the progression from normoglycaemia to type 2 diabetes defined by ADA criteria.

Association of cardiovascular risks and carotid stiffening at ultrafast ultrasound imaging in young populations.

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive role of carotid stiffening, quantified using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV), for assessing cardiovascular risk in young populations with no or elevated cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).

Materials And Methods: This study enrolled 180 young, apparently healthy individuals who underwent ufPWV measurements. They were classified into three groups: the CVRF-free group (n = 60), comprising current non-smokers with untreated blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg, fasting blood glucose (FBG) < 7.

[Validation and clinical value of prognostic model for assessing the risk of severe acute pancreatitis based on inflammatory and hemostasis markers].

Objective: To validate and assess clinical efficacy of a prognostic model for predicting severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) based on inflammatory markers (IL-6, ΔIL-22), thromboelastography parameters (K-time) and the BISAP score.

Material And Methods: A prospective observational cohort study enrolled 181 patients with acute pancreatitis. Serum IL-6 and IL-22 were measured in 24 and 48 hours after clinical manifestation, respectively.

Incorporating Rare Disease Growth Monitoring Into Routine Practice to Improve Early Recognition and Diagnosis of Genetic Conditions.

Routine growth monitoring includes plotting children on World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention charts that have primarily been developed on typical, healthy populations. However, it is advisable to plot children with known genetic conditions on specialized growth curves (SGCs) when they are available. In this review, we highlight the most common genetic conditions for which SGCs are available, clinical reasons to use SGCs based on specific rare diseases, and how these SGCs can be found.