Pediatric thalamic incidentalomas: a retrospective analysis of their characteristics, evolution, management, and prognostic factors for progression.

Purpose: The increasing availability of advanced neuroimaging has led to a rise in incidental findings among pediatric patients. Management strategies include immediate surgical intervention, observation or surgery upon progression. These are influenced by imaging characteristics, lesion behavior over time, patient/family preferences, and the lesion's surgical risks.

Anticoronavirus Activity of Uridine Glycoconjugates Containing a 1,2,3-Triazole Moiety.

Coronaviruses can spread rapidly to new host species and cause severe respiratory and enteric diseases in vertebrates, including humans. To date, seven coronaviruses have been identified in humans, with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) being the most notorious due to its substantial social and economic impact. Although anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are available, infections remain widespread, highlighting the ongoing need for antiviral treatments.

Mental and physical health burden and quality of life in Czech women with lipedema.

Background: Lipedema is a chronic condition characterized by excessive fat deposition in the hips, buttocks, and lower legs, significantly impacting quality of life. In Czechia, limited research exists on the relationship between lipedema symptoms and depressive symptoms, despite the condition's prevalence and its impact on mental health.

Aim: This study aims to investigate the relationship between lipedema symptoms and the severity of depressive symptoms among Czech women and assess their quality of life.

Development of succinate dehydrogenase subunit B-deficient tumor models for preclinical immunotherapy testing.

Immunotherapy has advanced the treatment landscape for many challenging cancers by harnessing the immune system to eliminate tumor cells. However, its efficacy in rare tumors such as pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PCC/PGL), particularly those with succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) mutations, remains underexplored. These tumors often exhibit complex tumor microenvironments and immune evasion mechanisms, and their low incidence hinders clinical trials development.

Block, expose, and immunize: triple attack on cancer.

Preventing metastasis remains a major challenge in cancer therapy. Effective strategies should combine immune activation with the inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion. In this Opinion article, we propose a multimodal approach that integrates migrastatic agents with photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intratumoral immunotherapy (ITI).

Functional characterization of 16 variants found in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a disorder of cholesterol metabolism characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The most common cause of FH are pathogenic variants in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. To shed light on the functional impact of selected LDLR variants, we functionally characterized 16 LDLR genetic variants alongside 10 control variants.

Placental mesenchymal stem cells: A promising platform for advancing gene therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

The extreme lethality and limited treatment options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) underscore the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study presents the first preclinical investigation of a cell-free gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) based on conditioned medium (CM) from placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PlacMSCs) engineered to express the yeast cytosine deaminase::uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (yCD::UPRT) fusion enzyme. The CM was concentrated tenfold (cCM) and characterized by proteomics, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting, confirming extracellular vesicle (EV) enrichment and UPRT expression.

Dynamic changes of systemic and local myokines in burn patients undergoing physiotherapy: A pilot prospective study.

Myokines, important signalling molecules in regulation of homeostasis in a post-injury state, have not been studied in burn patients. Here, we aimed to analyse dynamic changes in systemic and local concentrations of myokines and evaluated their associations with the mode of physiotherapy in burn patients. In this pilot study, 20 burn patients underwent repeated functional proprioceptive stimulation and conventional physiotherapy.

Decoding Protein Stabilization: Impact on Aggregation, Solubility, and Unfolding Mechanisms.

Modern computational tools can predict the mutational effects on protein stability, sometimes at the expense of activity or solubility. Here, we investigate two homologous computationally stabilized haloalkane dehalogenases: (i) the soluble thermostable DhaA115 ( = 74 °C) and (ii) the poorly soluble and aggregating thermostable LinB116 ( = 65 °C), together with their respective wild-type variants. The intriguing difference in the solubility of these highly homologous proteins has remained unexplained for three decades.

The combined effect of Cd and high light stress on the photochemical processes in .

The adverse effects of cadmium on plants are accompanied by a limitation of photosynthesis, due to the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative damage to PSII and the disruption of key protein complexes involved in photosynthetic pathways. We investigated the effects of cadmium stress combined with high light in , as dependent on the cadmium dose applied. The aim was to investigate the combined effect of the two stressors on photochemical processes with the hypothesis that Cd stress enhances the negative effect of the high light.

Cross-cultural analysis of eye-movement patterns in visual scene perception: a comparison of seven cultural samples.

This eye-tracking research investigates cross-cultural similarities and differences in visual attention in complex scenes free-viewing perception. The study utilizes 70 real-world photos with one or two focal objects as stimulus materials. The study examines the amount of time spent on focal objects, saccadic lengths, temporal changes in saccadic lengths and factors that influence these metrics.

Effect of adherence to exercise-based injury prevention programmes on the risk of sports injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Adherence may affect the effectiveness of injury prevention programmes (IPPs), yet no previous meta-analyses have examined the pooled impact of adherence to exercise-based IPPs across multiple injury types. The objective of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of exercise-based IPP adherence on the risk of sports injuries.

Methods: Six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science) were searched from inception to the end of May 2023.

Health-related quality of life and performance status with NALIRIFOX versus nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine in treatment-naive patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: results from the NAPOLI 3 trial.

Background: In NAPOLI 3 (NCT04083235), first-line (1L) liposomal irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin (NALIRIFOX) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival compared with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (Gem + NabP) in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). In this exploratory analysis, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and performance status (PS) outcomes from NAPOLI 3 were evaluated.

Materials And Methods: HRQoL was assessed at baseline, day 1 of each treatment cycle, and at end of treatment (EoT) using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life core questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Vertical Topography in EEG Microstates: Physiology or Artifact Manifestation?

The analysis of EEG microstates offers a valuable approach for investigating large-scale brain networks and dynamics. Beyond the commonly reported "canonical microstates," prior literature has identified another distinct topography: the vertical topography (VT). This VT is characterized by a prominent straight line dividing positive and negative values, extending from the nasion to the inion.

Uukuniemi virus infection causes a pervasive remodelling of the RNA-binding proteome in tick cells.

Cellular RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are pivotal for the viral lifecycle, mediating key host-virus interactions that promote or repress virus infection. While these interactions have been largely studied in the vertebrate host, no comprehensive analyses of protein-RNA interactions occurring in cells of arbovirus vectors, in particular ticks, have been performed to date. Here we systematically identified the responses of the RNA-binding proteome (RBPome) to infection with a prototype bunyavirus (Uukuniemi virus; UUKV) in tick cells and discovered changes in RNA-binding activity for 283 proteins.

Computing mutual similarity of 3D human faces in nearly linear time.

Using three-dimensional scans of human faces has become an emerging technique in studies of human variation, where the quantitative assessment of facial similarity complements the measurement of other somatic traits. While the algorithms for automated registration (geometrical alignment) and similarity measurement of two facial scans are well-known and used in practice, their direct application for batch processing is limited due to computational requirements. The batch N:N analysis, where all pairs of scans in a dataset must be mutually registered and compared, introduces quadratic complexity with computation times reaching hours even for relatively small datasets, making it practically unusable.

Establishment of Coala: a novel 3D and 2D cancer cell line derived from colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

Metastatic colorectal cancer is one of the most critical causes of cancer-related dead in patients suffering this type of malignancy. As the liver metastases are found in almost 25-50% of all colorectal cancer patients, there is an urgent need for suitable in vitro and in vivo models. To the best of our knowledge, only a limited number of well-described 2D or 3D organoid/spheroid cell lines originated from human liver metastases was reported for this type of malignancy and submitted to ATCC and other repository centers for general use.

Real-World Data From a Molecular Tumor Board-Assisted Cancer Care From a Single Center in The Czech Republic: Is Precision Oncology an Accessible Option, or a Privilege for a Minority of Patients?

Background: Molecular tumor boards (MTBs) support the development of personalized treatment strategies for patients with various cancer types based on comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of tumor tissue. Despite the unprecedented results demonstrated in many molecularly driven clinical trials, access to matched therapy remains a significant challenge in routine clinical practice worldwide.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed the MTB cohort from University Hospital Brno in the Czech Republic.

New insights into endothelial cell physiology and pathophysiology.

Endothelial cells, the gatekeepers of vascular permeability, play a pivotal role in vascular homeostasis by controlling inflammatory responses and hemostatic balance. However, their role is not limited to the circulatory system, since they also mediate organ function through numerous signaling pathways and cellular interactions. Recent studies have shown that endothelial cells not only constitute a heterogeneous population but also exhibit adaptive capacity, particularly in response to mechanical or biochemical stimuli.

Impact of concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors or cardiovascular medication on survival outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab.

Renal cell cancer (RCC) is typically a disease of older adults, who often have comorbidities requiring the use of multiple concomitant medications. Even though the patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) are often exposed to concomitant medications in parallel with anticancer agents, the impact of such co-medications remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and/or cardiovascular medication on the outcomes of patients with mRCC receiving nivolumab.

Mesopolyploidy as a taxonomic clade marker for Brassica and relatives (tribe Brassiceae).

Background And Aims: Whole Genome Duplications (WGD) are rampant in flowering plant genomes. Within Brassicaceae, the genus Brassica (including crop mustards) and relatives (tribe Brassiceae) are hypothesized to share an ancient mesohexaploidy, or whole genome triplication (WGT), resulting from two WGD events (Br-⍺ WGT). However, the phylogenetic boundaries of the Br-α WGT remain unknown.

Design specifications for biomedical virtual twins in engineered adoptive cellular immunotherapies.

In (immune)oncology, virtual twins (VTs) offer patient-individual decision support. Nevertheless, current VTs do not incorporate the unique properties of engineered adoptive cellular immunotherapies (eACIs). Here, we outline the minimal design specifications for VTs for engineered ACIs (eACI-VTs) to model the complex interplay between cell product and patient physiology.

Niche Dynamics of Alien Plant Species in Mediterranean Europe.

Humans have spread plants globally for millennia, inadvertently causing ecological disruptions. Apart from their negative effects, biological invasions provide a unique opportunity to study how species modify their niche when confronted with novel environments. Focusing on the Mediterranean Basin, we assessed (1) which traits influence niche dynamics, and (2) whether niche conservatism or niche shift promotes invasion success.

Maturation of Hippocampal Subfields in Young Adulthood and Its Relationship With Cognition.

The hippocampus is a key brain region for memory and cognitive functions, which consists of distinct subregions with different developmental trajectories throughout adolescence. However, trajectories of hippocampal subfield change in young adulthood remain uncharacterized, as is their potential relationship with cortical brain aging and cognitive ability during this time. We conducted two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-ups of a prenatal birth cohort in young adulthood and studied the effects of chronological age and cortical brain age on the volume of hippocampal subfields in the early 20s (n = 109; 51% men) and late 20s (n = 251; 53% men) and how these age-related volumetric changes might relate to full-scale IQ (FSIQ).