Unlocking Solid Polymer Electrolytes: Advancing Materials through Characterization-Driven Insights.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) hold great promise for next-generation battery technologies due to their inherent safety and mechanical stability. However, widely used poly-(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolytes face significant challenges, including high crystallinity, low ionic conductivity at ambient temperatures, and a narrow electrochemical stability window. Overcoming these limitations requires the development of novel polymer matrices alongside the refinement of advanced characterization methods that capture the fundamental dynamics of ion transport and polymer segmental mobility.

Haptoglobin phenotypes and structural variants associate with post-exertional malaise and cognitive dysfunction in myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a chronic, multisystem illness characterized by post-exertional malaise (PEM) and cognitive dysfunction, yet the molecular mechanisms driving these hallmark symptoms remain unclear. This study investigated haptoglobin (Hp) as a potential biomarker of PEM severity and cognitive impairment in ME, with a focus on Hp phenotypes and structural proteoforms.

Methods: A longitudinal case-control study was conducted in 140 ME patients and 44 matched sedentary healthy controls.

Protracted exposure to 134Cs and 137Cs gives substantial contribution to long-term thyroid absorbed dose after nuclear power plant accidents.

Thyroid dose estimations after nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents are traditionally based on internal uptake of radioiodine, mainly 131I, either by instrumental measurements of thyroid uptake or by ecological estimations based on geographical dispersion of the radioiodine cloud, demographics, and food habits. However, it has been shown that 134Cs and 137Cs in some cases can be the dominant contributors to the thyroid dose over long time following NPP accidents. Based on an ecological model using Swedish-specific parameters of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident in 1986, estimations of the protracted (30 years) thyroid absorbed dose were made for the population in northern Sweden (2.

Projected external doses from an accidental release of ESS spallation-target products: time-dependence and radionuclide contribution.

The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority has presented a report on severe accident scenarios at the European Spallation Source (ESS) for dimensioning the emergency preparedness zones around the facility. The source-term in the scenario consisted of more than 80 tungsten-target spallation products with physical half-life (T½) exceeding 1 hour. The purpose of this study is to establish which of these radionuclides will become of highest importance in terms of the radiological consequences to residents in areas affected by an accident release.

The Impact of the Injected Mass of the Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor Antagonist on Uptake in Breast Cancer: Lessons from a Phase I Trial of [Tc]Tc-DB8.

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) is overexpressed in breast cancer and might be used as a theranostics target. The expression of GRPR strongly correlates with estrogen receptor (ER) expression. Visualization of GRPR-expressing breast tumors might help to select the optimal treatment.

Native Overexpression in sp. PCC 6803 Significantly Enhances Polyhydroxybutyrate Production, Further Augmented by the Knockout Under Prolonged Nitrogen Deprivation.

This study highlights a new avenue to improve polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) productivity by optimizing genes related to arginine catabolism, which influences nitrogen metabolism in cyanobacteria based on the carbon/nitrogen metabolism balance. In the sp. PCC 6803 wild type (WT) and its mutant (Δ), the native gene, responsible for the oxidation of proline to glutamate, was overexpressed to create the OX and OX/Δ strains, respectively.

Significant Interplay Between Lipids, Cytokines, Chemokines, Growth Factors, and Blood Cells in an Outpatient Cohort.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, largely driven by atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory process involving lipids and immune cells. Although traditional lipid biomarkers such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) are well-established in CVD risk stratification, the interplay between cytokines, chemokines, growth factors (CCGFs), lipid metabolism, and hematological parameters in non-cardiac populations remains underexplored. We investigated associations between plasma cytokines and lipid-related biomarkers and their relationships with circulating blood cell counts in a cohort of 164 essentially healthy adults aged 18-44 years.

Challenges Pertaining to the Optimization of Therapy and the Management of Asthma-Results from the 2023 EU-LAMA Survey.

Treatment compliant with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) can promote more effective disease control. Single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) is one method that is used to optimize therapy in this context, but TRIPLE therapy is still employed by physicians to a limited extent. This study aimed to describe the factors influencing challenges in optimizing asthma therapy.

Overload of Glucose Metabolism as Initiating Factor in Diabetic Embryopathy and Prevention by Glyoxalase 1 Inducer Dietary Supplement.

Hyperglycemia in early-stage embryogenesis is linked to diabetic embryopathy. High-glucose-concentration-induced accumulation of hexokinase-2 (HK2) may initiate metabolic dysfunction that contributes to diabetic embryopathy, including increased formation of methylglyoxal (MG). In this study, we evaluated changes in HK2 protein levels and embryo dysmorphogenesis in an experimental model of diabetic embryopathy.

Patterns of practice of image guided particle therapy for extremity tumours: A site specific multi-institutional survey of European particle therapy network.

Purpose: To investigate the current practice patterns in image-guided proton therapy (IGPT) for extremities.

Methods: A multi-institutional survey was distributed to European particle therapy centres to analyse the current practice of IGPT for tumours of the extremities. A Delphi consensus analysis was developed to define minimum requirements and optimal workflow for clinical practice within eight centres participating in the European Particle Therapy Network (EPTN).

Novel macrocyclic peptidomimetics targeting the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP): design, synthesis and evaluation.

Inhibition of the insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) is a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, due to its role in cognitive processes. HA08, a macrocyclic peptidomimetic derived from angiotensin IV, is among the most potent known IRAP inhibitors (IC = 18 nM). However, detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies at its C-terminus have been limited by synthetic constraints.

Nonsurgical Treatment Versus Surgical Treatment in Displaced Metacarpal Spiral Fractures: Extended 4.5-Year Follow-Up of a Previously Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Spiral or oblique fractures of the metacarpals of rays II-V are common and often managed nonsurgically. Surgery is typically recommended for fractures with displacement or rotational deformity. In a recent randomized controlled trial of displaced fractures, nonsurgical treatment with early unrestricted mobilization was found to be noninferior to surgical treatment at the 1-year follow-up.

Age and tumour presentations differ between HPV type 16 positive and other high-risk HPV type-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas in a Swedish cohort of 2000-2022.

The incidence of human papillomavirus positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC) has increased the past decades. Initial reports disclosed that HPV type 16 (HPV16) was predominant and that patients with HPV+ OPSCC were generally younger and had a better prognosis than those with HPV negative (HPV-) OPSCC. However, recent reports suggest that age differences between patients with HPV+ and HPV-OPSCC are less pronounced and that other high-risk HPV types (HR-HPV) are becoming more common.

Water under hydrophobic confinement: entropy and diffusion.

The properties of liquid water are known to change drastically in confined geometries. A most interesting and intriguing phenomenon is that the diffusion of water is found to be strongly enhanced by the proximity of a hydrophobic confining wall relative to the bulk diffusion. We report a molecular dynamics simulation using a classical water model investigating the water diffusion near a non-interacting smooth confining wall, which is assumed to imitate a hydrophobic surface, revealing a pronounced diffusion enhancement within several water layers adjacent to the wall.

An in-depth analysis of coronary computed tomography angiography segmental findings in acute spontaneous coronary artery dissection - a prospective multicenter study.

Aims: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), causing acute coronary syndrome (ACS), primarily in middle-aged women, is diagnosed with invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Due to the risk of dissection propagation with ICA, a non-invasive diagnostic tool is needed. We investigated coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) findings in acute SCAD, as well as the inter-modality agreement between CCTA and ICA.

REview and improvement of Cardiac implanTable device InFection management qualitY initiative (RECTIFY): Rationale and Design for a Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection Quality Initiative Demonstration Project.

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are a growing concern due to their associated high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Current guidelines given complete device and lead removal for CIED infection a class I recommendation, yet adherence to these gudelines are low with delays in extraction associated with poor adverse clinical events. The REview and improvement of Cardiac implanTable device InFection qualitY initiative (RECTIFY) is a multi-center demonstration project aimed to identify and address health system-wide barriers to timely diagnosis and guideline-driven management of CIED infections.

Risk differences and underlying factors of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes versus type 1 diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study of Swedish nationwide register data.

Background: Despite improvements in diabetes care and risk factor management, the residual risk for cardiovascular disease and premature death remains substantially elevated in people both with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to compare the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality, as well as the contibution of underlying risk factors, between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In this nationwide, population-based cohort study, all living people with diabetes aged 18-84 years reported in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) by Jan 1, 2016, were followed-up over a period of 5 years until Dec 31, 2020.

Estimated health impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of taxation on unhealthy packaged foods in the Philippines: a modelling study.

Background: In 2018, the Philippines implemented a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. A broader tax on unhealthy foods is being considered. We aimed to estimate the effect of a tax on unhealthy packaged foods.

Tumor evolution and immune microenvironment dynamics in primary and relapsed mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare but often aggressive type of B cell lymphoma with a high risk of relapse. To explore intratumoral clonal diversity and tumor evolution related to disease relapse, we integrate single-cell RNA and B cell receptor sequencing with whole-genome sequencing in 20 diagnosed/untreated and/or relapsed samples from 11 MCL patients. Our results reveal significant intratumor heterogeneity in MCL already at diagnosis.

C-reactive protein predicts functional decline in older adults newly diagnosed with dementia: A 5-year follow-up study.

Background And Objectives: With the increasing prevalence of dementia, identifying markers that predict prognosis in people newly diagnosed with the disease is crucial for developing targeted interventions and initiating early actions to improve their outcomes. On the other hand, C-reactive protein (CRP) is an easily accessible marker of inflammation. This study aims to evaluate whether CRP is a marker of weight loss, cognitive decline, functional decline, and mortality in older adults newly diagnosed with dementia.

HPV testing alone as a test of cure after treatment with cervical loop excision: a retrospective register-based cohort study.

Background: Women treated with cervical loop electrosurgical excision procedure require follow-up to detect residual or recurrent HSIL+, defined as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, adenocarcinoma in situ or cervical cancer. Currently, co-testing with cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) analysis is usually recommended. This study investigates whether HPV testing alone is comparable to co-testing in detecting HSIL + up to three years after treatment.

Combinatorial DNMTs and EZH2 inhibition reprograms the H3K27me3 and DNAme-mediated onco-epigenome to suppress multiple myeloma proliferation.

Unlabelled: Comprehensive epigenomic studies in multiple myeloma (MM) that unravel the connections between major epigenetic regulators, their intertwined collaboration and the potential of combinatorial targeting remain limited. Utilizing ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and DNA methylation (DNAme) data, we generated whole-genome chromatin annotations from normal plasma cells and MM patients, revealing epigenomic re-configuration affecting downstream genes involved in tumour growth and survival. Primary MM samples showed global DNA hypomethylation but site-specific hypermethylation was observed at transcription start sites, promoters, and enhancers.

Extinction of Innate Floral Preferences in the Generalist Solitary Pollinator Eristalis tenax.

Innate behaviours allow solitary animals to complete essential tasks in the absence of social learning. However, we know little about the degree to which ecologically relevant innate preferences can change, and a complete extinction of innate preferences has rarely been shown. The hoverfly Eristalis tenax, a solitary generalist pollinator, is an ideal model for studying innate behaviour in a naturalistic context because its survival depends on the innate ability to identify flowers across many habitats, which could necessitate both learning and unlearning floral objects.