Polyneuropathy in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Accuracy of a New Clinical Diagnostic Scoring System.

Background And Aims: Polyneuropathy is highly prevalent among kidney transplant recipients (KTR), underscoring the need for an accurate yet easy-to-perform diagnostic method to improve understanding and enable early identification of treatable cases.

Methods: This study included KTR at least 12 months post-transplant at the University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands. An expert panel assessed polyneuropathy through a structured neurological examination, quantitative sensory testing, and nerve conduction studies.

Enhancing reconstruction-based out-of-distribution detection in brain MRI with model and metric ensembles.

Background And Objective: Out-of-distribution (OOD) detection is crucial for safely deploying automated medical image analysis systems, as abnormal patterns in images could hamper their performance. However, OOD detection in medical imaging remains an open challenge. In this study, we aim to optimize a reconstruction-based autoencoder specifically for OOD detection.

Barriers to and facilitators of implementing the Lebanese Health economic evaluation guideline: an initial exploration.

Objective: To identify the major barriers to and facilitators of implementing the Lebanese Health Economic Evaluation Guideline (LEEG) according to Lebanese stakeholders, supported by their insights.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

Methods: We conducted a survey asking 16 key stakeholders to rate LEEG's importance, its necessity for Lebanon, and its applicability in decision-making, and Likert scale questions to rate barriers and facilitators.

Diagnostic reference level curves for paediatric fluoroscopic imaging in the Netherlands.

Objectives: Establishing paediatric DRLs is challenging due to sparse data availability. The objective was to assess paediatric fluoroscopic dose levels in Dutch clinical practice, as current diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) need updating following the European Guidelines on DRLs for Paediatric Imaging (PiDRL).

Material And Methods: Air Kerma-area Product (KAP) values were retrospectively collected from paediatric patients (0-18 years) who underwent fluoroscopic procedures in nine Dutch hospitals between 01-01-2017 and 01-06-2021.

Microbiota-Dependent Fiber Responses: A Proof-of-Concept Study on Short-chain Fatty Acid Production in Prevotella- and Bacteroides-Dominated Healthy Individuals.

Background: Dietary fiber supports metabolic health via microbial fermentation, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, metabolic responses to fiber vary between individuals, potentially due to differences in gut microbiota composition. The Prevotella-to-Bacteroides (P/B) ratio has emerged as a potential biomarker for fiber responsiveness.

Does unfairness evoke anger or disgust? A quantitative neurofunctional dissection based on 25 years of neuroimaging.

Over the last decades, the traditional 'Homo economicus' model has been increasingly challenged by converging evidence highlighting the critical impact of emotions on decision-making. A classic example is the perception of unfairness in the Ultimatum Game, where humans willingly sacrifice personal gains to punish fairness norm violators. While emotional mechanisms underlying such costly punishment are widely acknowledged, the distinct contributions of moral emotions, particularly anger and disgust, remain debated, partly due to methodological limitations in conventional experiments.

Performance of non-invasive prenatal testing in vanishing-twin and multiple pregnancies: results of TRIDENT-2 study.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in vanishing-twin and multiple pregnancies.

Methods: This study was conducted as part of the TRIDENT-2 study, in which NIPT was offered as a first-tier screening test to women with a multiple pregnancy or vanishing-twin pregnancy between 1 June 2020 and 31 March 2023 in The Netherlands. Abnormal NIPT results were investigated by follow-up invasive prenatal testing and/or postnatal genetic testing.

Moving beyond the motor cortex: A brain-wide evaluation of target locations for intracranial speech neuroprostheses.

Speech brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer a solution for those affected by speech impairments by decoding brain activity into speech. Current neuroprosthetics focus on the motor cortex, which might not be suitable for all patient populations. We investigate potential alternative targets for a speech BCI across a brain-wide distribution.

A head-to-head comparison of soluble dietary fibers on microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid production using the in vitro TIM-2 system.

Soluble dietary fibers (SDFs) are recognized for their health benefits through their fermentation and gut microbiota modulation. Previous studies focused on individual SDFs without sufficient structural information and a comparative analysis using different SDFs on microbiota composition and function is lacking. The present study aimed to determine key structural features of different SDFs, including soluble resistant starch (SRS), inulin (INU), four structurally diverse pectins (PS1 to PS4), one pectic derivative (PS5) and larch arabinogalactan (AG).

Fractionation and biological evaluation of passion fruit Pectins: HG and RG-I backbone ratios are associated with TLR2-1 interaction and signaling.

Passion fruit mesocarp is rich in pectin, and high-temperature/pressure modification of this pectin has been shown to yield bioactive fragments with anticancer potential. To clarify the structure-function relationship of passion fruit pectins, we purified native and modified pectins using two fractionation methods. Comprehensive chemical characterization revealed molecular weight as the primary difference between fractions, along with varying proportions of homogalacturonan (HG) and rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I).

Ab-Externo MicroShunt versus Trabeculectomy in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma:5-Year Safety Results from a Randomized, Multicenter Study.

Purpose: To compare the long-term safety of MicroShunt implantation with trabeculectomy in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: This was a 3-year observational extension of a 2-year prospective randomized trial comparing clinical outcomes of MicroShunt implantation with trabeculectomy, both augmented with mitomycin C. Adverse events (AEs), intraocular pressure (IOP), and IOP-lowering medication use were recorded 36, 48, and 60 months after initial randomization.

Total tumor volume predicts overall survival and response to induction chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases: An ancillary study of the phase 3 CAIRO5 trial.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess whether total tumor volume (TTV) outperforms RECIST1.1 for treatment response assessment in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), and to investigate TTV as a predictive biomarker for the optimal systemic treatment regimen for individual patients with initially unresectable CRLM.

Methods: Patients with initially unresectable liver-only CRLM from the phase 3 CAIRO5 trial (NCT02162563) were included.

Unpacking cortisol stress reactivity: Associations with psychological state and trait data in a pooled data sample.

Prior research suggests that cortisol responses to acute stress induction paradigms (i.e., "cortisol stress reactivity") likely arise from complex interactions between experiment-level, biological, and psychological factors.

Joint models reveal human subcortical underpinnings of choice and learning behavior.

Decision making and learning processes together enable adaptive strategic behavior. Animal studies demonstrated the importance of subcortical regions in these cognitive processes, but the human subcortical contributions remain poorly characterized. Here, we study choice and learning processes in the human subcortex, using a tailored ultra-high field 7T functional MRI protocol combined with joint models.

Associations of Biomarkers of Kidney Tubule Health with Retinal Microvascular Signs: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background: CKD is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet the etiology responsible for this link remains elusive. Novel blood and urine biomarkers reflecting kidney tubule dysfunction and injury may provide novel insights to mechanisms linking the kidney to CVD.

Methods: In 470 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) without type 2 diabetes, CVD or CKD, we measured six plasma (kidney injury molecule-1 [KIM-1], monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1], soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor [suPAR], tumor necrosis factor receptor [TNFR] 1 and 2, and anti-chitinase-3-like protein 1 [YKL-40]) and six urinary (alpha 1 microglobulin [A-1M], epidermal growth factor [EGF], KIM-1, MCP-1, YKL-40 and uromodulin [UMOD]) kidney tubule health biomarkers.

A discourse analysis of social inequities, gender, and stigma in tuberculosis policies of seven countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Background: Interventions tackling the social aspects of tuberculosis (TB) are widely suggested, yet we miss insights into how policies incorporate these. The language and framing of policies to address TB can lend important insights into how these social drivers are perceived, problematized, and responded to.

Objective: To understand how discourses in current TB policies frame social dimensions of TB, especially concepts of social inequity, gender, and stigma.

Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Nutritional Habits among Schoolchildren Aged 11-15 Years in Albania.

Objective: Healthy nutritional habits during childhood promote healthy growth and development and foster psycho-emotional wellbeing. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of selected nutritional habits among Albanian schoolchildren.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania in 2022, in the framework of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey, including a nationwide representative sample of 5,454 schoolchildren aged 11-15 years (≈52% girls; ≈96% response).

Persistent progression independent of relapse activity in multiple sclerosis.

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) may experience disability progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA), which can be an early sign of secondary progressive MS (SPMS). We defined persistent PIRA as ongoing sustained disability over the entire available follow-up period. However, PIRA events can regress over time.

Impact of Stimuli-Responsiveness on the mRNA Delivery Efficiency of Low-Generation Dendrimer Nanogels.

Development of efficient and stimuli-responsive gene delivery systems for therapeutic protein expression and immunomodulation remains challenging. Here, we report the synthesis of three types of pH-, reactive oxygen species (ROS)- and glutathione (GSH)-responsive dendrimer nanogels (for short, DNGs-pH, DNGs-ROS, and DNGs-GSH, respectively) a microemulsion method for delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) and plasmid DNA (pDNA), both encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (for short, mEGFP and pEGFP), to dendritic cells (DCs). The synthesized DNGs exhibit a nanoscale dimension, high monodispersity, desired colloidal stability, low cytotoxicity, and efficient gene delivery efficiency.

Exploring the Factors Underlying the Narrowing Urban Advantage in Child Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.

It is widely acknowledged that child mortality rates have been higher in rural than urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); a phenomenon appreciated as the urban advantage. However, since at least the 1980s, this urban advantage has been narrowing, and in some cases reversing across SSA. While existing studies have primarily focused on establishing this relationship, few clearly define what constitutes urban or rural, with authors using different operationalizations.

Target volume delineation of the neck for radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: CSTRO, CACA, CSCO, HNCIG, ESTRO, and ASTRO guidelines and contouring atlas.

The Chinese Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology, the Head and Neck Cancer International Group, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, and the American Society for Radiation Oncology collaboratively developed evidence-based guidelines and a comprehensive contouring atlas for neck target volume delineation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These guidelines address five key challenges in modern radiotherapy practice: margin design of clinical target volume; nodal target volume delineation after induction chemotherapy; delineation of equivocal nodes evident on imaging; low-risk clinical target volume delineation based on regional stepwise extension patterns; and modifications for anatomical boundaries of lymphatic areas. Developed through a rigorous systematic review and expert appraisal process by a panel of 50 international, multidisciplinary members from 17 countries and regions, these guidelines incorporate the latest advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment.

Primary target volume delineation for radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: CSTRO, CACA, CSCO, HNCIG, ESTRO, and ASTRO guidelines and contouring atlas.

The Chinese Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology, Head and Neck Cancer International Group, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, and the American Society for Radiation Oncology jointly developed evidence-based guidelines and a contouring atlas for primary target volume delineation for radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The guidelines systematically address three crucial challenges: margin design of clinical target volumes; target volume delineation after induction chemotherapy; and low-risk clinical target volume delineation based on local stepwise extension patterns. Based on a comprehensive systematic review and critical appraisal by an international multidisciplinary panel of 50 nasopharyngeal carcinoma specialists from 17 countries and regions, these guidelines are in keeping with advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment, embodying contemporary treatment concepts, and elaborating on the differences in practice.

Outcomes following exploratory surgery without subsequent resection in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A nationwide analysis.

Introduction: Definitive assessment of resectability in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) often requires surgical exploration. Limited data exist on whether surgical exploration without resection affects the chance of receiving subsequent systemic therapy and survival. This nationwide analysis aims to address this question.

Clinical risk factors for developing brain metastases during first-line (chemo-)immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer without known baseline brain metastases.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) are common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although guidelines recommend baseline BM screening in asymptomatic patients, its benefit remains unproven. Routine imaging burdens healthcare systems and patients.