Molecular imaging with 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in high grade glioma: A biomarker for tumour neo-angiogenesis.

There are several promising radiotracers used for both staging and restaging of primary and recurrent brain tumours based on various mechanisms of tracer localization in tumour cells. 68Ga-PSMA PET has extremely low background uptake in normal brain tissue and consequently high tumour-to-brain ratio making it a promising imaging radiotracer for gliomas. 68Ga-PSMA demonstrates utility in evaluating high grade glioma during both initial workup or when suspecting recurrence. Herein the authors evaluate the role of this imaging modality and the potential future it holds in the management of high grade gliomas.

Validation of the dispositional adult hyperfocus questionnaire (AHQ-D).

Hyperfocus (HF), or intense, deep concentration on a task, has gained significant research attention in recent years, particularly in regard to clinical populations such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The present work aims to provide validation of the 12-item dispositional adult hyperfocus questionnaire (AHQ-D) as a quantitative metric of HF in adults. We preregistered the study design and hypotheses. We administered the AHQ-D and several additional questionnaires to 347 adults (mean ± SD age: 33 ± 11 years; 47% female). Exploratory factor analysis revealed high factor loadings (0.57-0.81) on a single HF factor; item response theory analysis suggested that the questionnaire items had high discrimination and covered a wide range of responses; and we report strong internal consistency metrics (Cronbach's alpha 0.93, mean split-half reliability 0.93). Replicating our previous work, HF was positively correlated with Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) scores (r(345) = 0.53), suggesting that HF may be related to ADHD traits (though in this sample we did not specifically recruit individuals with ADHD). The AHQ-D demonstrated the hypothesized convergent validity; HF on the AHQ-D was positively correlated with HF measured using a different HF scale (r(344) = 0.69), as well as flow (r(345) = 0.12) and mind wandering (r(345) = 0.39) scores. AHQ-D HF scores showed a weak negative correlation with grit (r(345) = - 0.29). Though there was a weak negative correlation between HF and social desirability response tendency (r(345) = - 0.24), suggesting that those who care more about what others think may report less HF, there was no relationship between HF and extrasensory perception beliefs (r(345) = 0.01), suggesting that participants were not simply biased in their response tendencies. Taken together, we demonstrate strong scale metrics for the AHQ-D, the expected convergent validity, and a general lack of response bias, in addition to replicating our previous association of HF with ADHD traits. We suggest that the AHQ-D can be confidently used in future work as a valid way to measure HF in adults.

First-principles investigation of oxidized Si- and Ge-terminated diamond (100) surfaces.

Diamond is a semiconductor material with remarkable structural, thermal, and electronic properties that has garnered significant interest in the field of electronics. Although hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) terminations are conventionally favored in transistor designs, alternative options, such as silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), are being explored because of their resilience to harsh processing conditions during fabrication. Density-functional theory was used to examine the non-oxidized and oxidized group-IV (Si and Ge)-terminated diamond (100) surfaces. The (3 × 1) reconstructed surfaces feature an ether configuration and show relative stability compared with the bare surface. Hybrid-functional calculations of the electronic properties revealed reduced fundamental bandgaps (<1 eV) and lower negative electron affinities (NEAs) than those of H-terminated diamond surfaces, which is attributed to the introduction of unoccupied Si (Ge) states and the depletion of negative charges. Furthermore, oxidation of these surfaces enhanced the stability of the diamond surfaces but resulted in two structural configurations: ether and ketone. Oxidized ether configurations displayed insulating properties with energy gaps of ∼4.3 ± 0.3 eV, similar to H-terminated diamond (100) surfaces, whereas bridged ether configurations exhibited metallic properties. Oxidization of the metallic ketone configurations leads to the opening of relatively smaller gaps in the range of 1.1-1.7 eV. Overall, oxidation induced a shift from NEAs to positive electron affinities, except for the reverse-ordered ketone surface with an NEA of -0.94 eV, a value comparable to the H-terminated diamond (100) surfaces. In conclusion, oxidized group-IV-terminated diamond surfaces offer enhanced stability compared to H-terminated surfaces and display unique structural and electronic properties that are influenced by surface bonding.

Shoulder Dysfunction and Quality of Life Following Modified Radical and Selective Neck Dissection: A Prospective Comparative Study.

Head and neck cancers are fairly common in India due to the widespread consumption of tobacco and neck dissection is a major component in the surgical management. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of MRND and SND on shoulder function and quality of life in patients of head and neck cancer. Our study is a prospective comparative study on 65 head and neck cancer patients divided into 2 groups-33 in group A (MRND group) and 32 in group B (SND group). Clinical evaluation of shoulder function was done pre-operatively, 1 week, 1 month, 3 month and 6 month post-operatively using arm abduction scores (AAS) and shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Nerve-conduction study (NCS) was done pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively for assessment of SAN. Neck dissection quality of life questionnaire (NDQOL) was used as a quality-of-life measure. A total of 65 neck dissections were included in the analysis (33 in group A and 32 in group B) out of which 53 were males and 12 were females. The mean AAS on the 6th post-operative month in group A was significantly lower than that of group B (p = 0.01). The mean SPADI scores on the 6th post-operative month was significantly worse in group A than group B (p value 0.01). On NCS, a significant decrease in amplitude was seen in group A (p = 0.02) and a significant increase in latency was noted in group B (p = 0.005). Quality of life score on 6th post-operative month showed no significant difference between both the groups (p > 0.05). Level V dissection in MRND is associated with higher incidence and greater severity of shoulder dysfunction. AAS and SPADI score are useful tools in post operative follow up of shoulder dysfunction. NCS helps in the detection of neuropathy and to determine its severity. Early rehabilitation promotes long term recovery.

Face-specific identification impairments following sight-providing treatment may be alleviated by an initial period of low visual acuity.

Identifying faces requires configural processing of visual information. We previously proposed that the poor visual acuity experienced by newborns in their first year of life lays the groundwork for such configural processing by forcing integration over larger spatial fields. This hypothesis predicts that children treated for congenital cataracts late in life will exhibit persistent impairments in face- but not object-identification, because they begin their visual journey with higher than newborn acuity. This would not be the case for patients whose pretreatment condition has allowed for initial low acuity vision, like that of a newborn. Here, we test this prediction by assessing the development of facial identification skill in three groups: patients treated for congenital cataracts whose pretreatment visual acuity was worse than that of a newborn, patients whose pretreatment acuity was better than that of a newborn, and age-matched controls. We find that while both patient groups show significant gains in object-identification, the emergence of face identification is determined by pretreatment acuity: patients with pre-operative acuity worse than a newborn did not show any improvements on face-identification tasks despite years of visual experience, whereas those with pretreatment acuity comparable to a newborn improved on both the object- and face-identification tasks. These findings not only answer our research question but also provide new insights into the role of early visual acuity in facial identification development. We discuss these results in the context of both typical and atypical visual development.

Clinicopathological Study of Lesions of Upper Gastrointestinal Tract.

Conditions affecting the upper digestive system are often seen in clinical practice and are associated with a high rate of death and disability. Histopathological confirmation is one of the foundations for good treatment planning and the definite diagnosis of illnesses of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The numerous methods employed in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lesions have come a long way in the previous 25 years. The identification and diagnosis of gastrointestinal lesions have been substantially aided by the development of endoscopy, endoscopic biopsy, and other surgical techniques. This research aimed to examine the variety of gastrointestinal tract (GI) lesions and to draw connections between the clinical and pathological manifestations of these conditions. Materials and Methods: A two-year cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pathology, from June 2018 to May 2020, which included surgical specimens of 140 cases from the upper gastrointestinal tract, of which 111 cases were biopsy, and 29 cases were resected surgical specimens. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Furthermore, P values, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Results: This study was a two-year cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Pathology during the period of June 2018-May 2020.

Healthcare-associated fungal infections and emerging pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historically, fungi were mainly identified as plant and insect pathogens since they grow at 28°C. At the same time, bacteria are known to be the most common human pathogens as they are compatible with the host body temperature of 37°C. Because of immunocompromised hosts, cancer therapy, and malnutrition, fungi are rapidly gaining attention as human pathogens. Over 150 million people have severe fungal infections, which lead to approximately more than one million deaths per year. Moreover, diseases like cancer involving long-term therapy and prophylactic use of antifungal drugs in high-risk patients have increased the emergence of drug-resistant fungi, including highly virulent strains such as Candida auris. This clinical spectrum of fungal diseases ranges from superficial mucocutaneous lesions to more severe and life-threatening infections. This review article summarizes the effect of hospital environments, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, on fungal infections and emerging pathogens. The review also provides insights into the various antifungal drugs and their existing challenges, thereby driving the need to search for novel antifungal agents.

Correction: Accelerated Care of Patients with Hip Fractures is Associated with Lower Risk of Delirium and Infection, and a Shorter Length of Hospital Stay: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Level One Evidence.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s43465-023-01026-x.].

Cecal volvulus following appendectomy in a teenage patient: A case report.

Patients mimicking appendicitis symptoms in a rural setting or those post-appendectomy, indicating cecal volvulus, should always be considered. Swift action can prevent catastrophic consequences. Abstract: We present a case of a 14-year-old female who initially underwent open appendectomy for acute appendicitis and subsequently experienced symptoms of abdominal distention, vomiting, and fever. Her condition deteriorated following the appendectomy, despite a prior appendectomy for similar symptoms at a different facility. A computed tomography (CT) scan identified cecal volvulus as the underlying issue. This led to the performance of a laparotomy, cecopexy, and decompressive ileostomy. After six weeks, ileostomy closure was successfully carried out, and the patient currently enjoys good health. This case highlights the significance of considering uncommon factors as potential contributors to postoperative complications in young patients.

Survival following lung volume reduction procedures: results from the UK Lung Volume Reduction (UKLVR) registry.

INTRODUCTION: Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) and endobronchial valve (EBV) placement can produce substantial benefits in appropriately selected people with emphysema. The UK Lung Volume Reduction (UKLVR) registry is a national multicentre observational study set up to support quality standards and assess outcomes from LVR procedures at specialist centres across the UK. METHODS: Data were analysed for all patients undergoing an LVR procedure (LVRS/EBV) who were recruited into the study at participating centres between January 2017 and June 2022, including; disease severity and risk assessment, compliance with guidelines for selection, procedural complications and survival to February 2023. RESULTS: Data on 541 patients from 14 participating centres were analysed. Baseline disease severity was similar in patients who had surgery n=244 (44.9%), or EBV placement n=219 (40.9%), for example, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 32.1 (12.1)% vs 31.2 (11.6)%. 89% of cases had discussion at a multidisciplinary meeting recorded. Median (IQR) length of stay postprocedure for LVRS and EBVs was 12 (13) vs 4 (4) days(p=0.01). Increasing age, male gender and lower FEV1%predicted were associated with mortality risk, but survival did not differ between the two procedures, with 50 (10.8%) deaths during follow-up in the LVRS group vs 45 (9.7%) following EBVs (adjusted HR 1.10 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.67) p=0.661) CONCLUSION: Based on data entered in the UKLVR registry, LVRS and EBV procedures for emphysema are being performed in people with similar disease severity and long-term survival is similar in both groups.

Evaluation of Latex Agglutination Test for Rapid Identification of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Pyogenic Wound Infections at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background Staphylococcus aureus infections are increasingly reported worldwide. It is a major clinical problem and imposes significant morbidity and mortality due to widespread emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens like methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, rapid and reliable identification of Staphylococcus aureus is essential for timely and effective management of patient. Objective The performance of Latex agglutination test (Staphaurex Plus) was compared to conventional method tube coagulase test which is gold standard too for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus. Method This study was conducted at B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. Following standard microbiological methods, isolation and identification was done in the Department of Microbiology. MRSA detection was performed following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. All the isolates of Staphylococci were subjected for Latex agglutination test and was performed according to manufacturer's instructions using Staphaurex Plus kit. Result Out of 377 (methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus - 142; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus - 233; Coagulase Negative Staphylococci -2) isolates of Staphylococci, Latex agglutination test was found to be positive in 138 (97.1%) of methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 220 (94.4%) of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Latex agglutination test was found to be 95.46%, 100%, 100%, 10.52% respectively. Conclusion In conclusion, Latex agglutination test is a rapid and reliable test for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus.

The Role Of 18F-FDG PET/CT In Evaluation Of Primary CNS Lymphoma: The Path Less Travelled.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare but highly aggressive lymphoma with increasing incidence in immunocompromised patients. MRI is the modality of choice in evaluating brain lesions. However, MRI is often challenging in the detection of early recurrence, assessing residual disease and response evaluation in PCNSL. 18F-FDG PET/CT has superior diagnostic performance compared with body CT in the evaluation of lymphoma. 18F-FDG PET-CT is helpful in evaluating evaluation of disease extent and differentiating primary CNS lymphoma from systemic lymphoma. Besides diagnostic and prognostic value in primary CNS lymphoma, it might also be helpful in response assessment. The role of FDG-PET in PCNSL is not fully defined. In this article we have reviewed the potential role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in initial diagnosis, baseline staging, restaging, evaluation of treatment response, prognostication, and survival analysis of PCNSL.

Characterization and translational development of IOA-289, a novel autotaxin inhibitor for the treatment of solid tumors.

Background: Autotaxin-lysophosphatidic acid (ATX-LPA) signaling has a predominant role in immunological and fibrotic processes, including cancer. Several ATX inhibitors and LPA receptor antagonists have been clinically evaluated, but none in patients with solid tumors. Many cancers are burdened with a high degree of fibrosis and an immune desert phenotype (so-called 'cold' tumors). In these cold tumors, the fibrotic stroma provides an intrinsic cancer-supporting mechanism. Furthermore, the stroma prevents penetration and limits the effectiveness of existing therapies. IOA-289 is a novel ATX inhibitor with a unique chemical structure, excellent potency and an attractive safety profile. Materials and methods: In vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies have been carried out to elucidate the pharmaceutical properties and mechanism of action of IOA-289. A phase I clinical study in healthy volunteers was carried out to determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of IOA-289 following a single oral dose. Results: In vitro and in vivo studies showed that IOA-289 is a potent inhibitor of ATX and, as a monotherapy, is able to slow progression of lung fibrosis and tumor growth in mouse models. In a clinical study, IOA-289 showed a dose-dependent increase in plasma exposure levels and a corresponding decrease in circulating LPA. Conclusions: Our data show that IOA-289 is a novel ATX inhibitor with a unique chemical structure, excellent potency and an attractive safety profile. Our data support the further development of IOA-289 as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer, particularly those with a high fibrotic and immunologically cold phenotype.

Willingness to vaccinate children against COVID-19 declined during the pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To document the level of vaccine hesitancy in caregivers' of children younger than 12 years of age over the course of the pandemic in Pediatric Emergency Departments (ED). Study design Ongoing multicenter, cross-sectional survey of caregivers presenting to 19 pediatric EDs in the USA, Canada, Israel, and Switzerland during first months of the pandemic (phase1), when vaccines were approved for adults (phase2) and most recently when vaccines were approved for children (phase3). RESULTS: Willingness to vaccinate rate declined over the study period (59.7%, 56.1% and 52.1% in the three phases). Caregivers who are fully vaccinated, who have higher education, and those worried their child had COVID-19 upon arrival to the ED, were more likely to plan to vaccinate in all three phases. Mothers were less likely to vaccinate early in the pandemic, but this hesitancy attenuated in later phases. Older caregivers were more willing to vaccinate, and caregivers of older children were less likely to vaccinate their children in phase 3. During the last phase, willingness to vaccinate was lowest in those who had a primary care provider but did not rely on their advice for medical decisions (34%). Those with no primary care provider and those who do and rely on their medical advice, had similar rates of willingness to vaccinate (55.1% and 52.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is widespread and growing over time, and public health measures should further try to leverage identified factors associated with hesitancy in order to enhance vaccination rates among children.

Robotic versus open lateral abdominal hernia repair: a multicenter propensity score matched analysis of perioperative and 1-year outcomes.

PURPOSE: Lateral abdominal hernias are inherently challenging surgical entities. As such, there has been an increase in the adoption of robotic platforms to approach these challenging hernias. Our study aims to assess and compare outcomes between open (oLAHR) and robotic (rLAHR) lateral abdominal hernia repair using a national hernia-specific database. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data from the Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative was performed to include all adult patients who underwent elective lateral hernia repair. A propensity score match analysis was conducted, and univariate analyses were conducted to compare these two surgical modalities across perioperative timeframes. RESULTS: The database identified 2569 patients. Our analysis matched 665 patients to either the open or robotic groups. The median length of stay, surgical site occurrences (SSO), and surgical site occurrences requiring procedural interventions (SSOPI) were higher in the oLAHR versus the rLAHR group. Overall, oLAHR had a significantly higher rate of having any post-operative complications or any SSO/SSOPI. There was no difference in quality-of-life measures between groups at 30 days and 1 year. CONCLUSION: Robotic abdominal hernia repair is a safe alternative compared to the open repair of lateral abdominal hernias with better perioperative outcomes. Despite having a longer operative time, the robotic approach can offer a significantly shorter length of stay and an overall lower rate of complications. Ultimately, there is no difference in the quality-of-life measures both at 30 days and 1 year between the open and robotic approaches.

Protocol for Clinical GLP-1 Receptor PET/CT Imaging with [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4.

Imaging with radiolabeled exendin enables detection and characterization of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) in vivo with high specificity. The novel radiotracer [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 forms a stable complex after a simple and fast labeling procedure. Beta-cell mass in the islets of Langerhans can be visualized using [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4, which is promising for research into diabetes mellitus (DM) pathophysiology. Furthermore, this radiotracer enables very sensitive detection of insulinomas, resulting from vast overexpression of GLP-1Rs, and seems promising for the detection of focal lesions in congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Here, we describe the procedures involved in [68Ga]Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging including the radiolabeling of the NODAGA-exendin conjugate with 68Ga, quality controls, and PET/CT.

Optimization with photonic wave-based annealers.

Many NP-hard combinatorial optimization (CO) problems can be cast as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization model, which maps naturally to an Ising model. The final spin configuration in the Ising model can adiabatically arrive at a solution to a Hamiltonian, given a known set of interactions between spins. We enhance two photonic Ising machines (PIMs) and compare their performance against classical (Gurobi) and quantum (D-Wave) solvers. The temporal multiplexed coherent Ising machine (TMCIM) uses the bistable response of an electro-optic modulator to mimic the spin up and down states. We compare TMCIM performance on Max-cut problems. A spatial photonic Ising machine (SPIM) convolves the wavefront of a coherent laser beam with the pixel distribution of a spatial light modulator to adiabatically achieve a minimum energy configuration, and solve a number partitioning problem (NPP). Our computational results on Max-cut indicate that classical solvers are still a better choice, while our NPP results show that SPIM is better as the problem size increases. In both cases, connectivity in Ising hardware is crucial for performance. Our results also highlight the importance of better understanding which CO problems are most likely to benefit from which type of PIM. This article is part of the theme issue 'Quantum annealing and computation: challenges and perspectives'.

Are non-invasive estimations of plasma volume an accurate measure of congestion in patients with chronic heart failure?

AIMS: We report associations between different formulae for estimating plasma volume status (PVS) and clinical and ultrasound markers of congestion in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) enrolled in the Hull Lifelab registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cohort 1 comprised patients with data on signs and symptoms at initial evaluation (n = 3505). Cohort 2 included patients with ultrasound assessment of congestion [lung B-line count, inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter, jugular vein distensibility (JVD) ratio] (N = 341). Two formulae for PVS were used: (a) Hakim (HPVS) and (b) Duarte (DPVS). Results were compared with clinical and ultrasound markers of congestion. Outcomes assessed were mortality and the composite of heart failure (HF) hospitalisation and all-cause mortality. In cohort 1, HPVS was associated with mortality [hazard ratio (HR) per unitary increase = 1.02 (1.01-1.03); P < 0.001]. In cohort 2, HPVS was associated with B-line count (HR) = 1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI) (1.01-1.08); P = 0.02] and DPVS with the composite outcome [HR = 1.26 (1.01-1.58); P = 0.04]. HPVS and DPVS were strongly related to haemoglobin concentration and HPVS to weight. After multivariable analysis, there were no strong or consistent associations between PVS and measures of congestion, severity of symptoms, or outcome. By contrast, log[NTproBNP] was strongly associated with all three. CONCLUSION: Amongst patients with CHF, HPVS and DPVS are not strongly or consistently associated with clinical or ultrasound evidence of congestion, nor clinical outcomes after multivariable adjustment. They appear only to be surrogates of the variables from which they are calculated with no intrinsic clinical utility.