Preferred music listening for people living with dementia: Two home-based case studies discussing compilation process, autobiographical and biophysical responses.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia can be reduced through music listening. Little has been reported on home-based listening, compilation processes, or individual responses that include biophysiological data. We aim to provide new insights from two home-based case studies focused on specific music selections. Participants were part of a larger study, co-designing an automated radio, diary reminder and personal playlist system for NPS management. Playlists were compiled that would have the best possible chance of achieving this, based on participants' autobiographical, narrative, heart rate (HR) and videoed responses. Participant's responses to their music aligned with the genre they chose - dancing to up-beat music, contrasting with subtle responses to Beethoven. Repeated listens may help to establish consistency of responses and allow time to communicate their genuine preferences, not those others suggested. If all of these data converge, then they could help confirm the suitability of music for NPS management.

Correlation of resin composite translucency and IOS accuracy: An in-vitro study.

Background: Different restoration materials have different optical characteristics that influence the intraoral scanner's (IOS) image accuracy. The purpose of this in-vitro investigation was to investigate how composite translucency affected the accuracy of IOS. Material and Methods: GC G-aenial Universal Injectable JE composite plates were used for the study at 3 thicknesses (1-2-3mm). A lab scanner (3Shape E1) obtained 1 reference scan, whereas IOS (Trios3) was used to conduct 10 experimental scans per group. After 3D superimposition, deviation values were used to assess the accuracy (trueness and precision) outcomes for the corresponding groups. Using an LS170 V2.0 colorimeter, the translucency parameter (TP) of the plates was determined from L*a*b* values of CIELAB color space. Results: The composite translucency resulted in a decrease in the scale of digital impressions. The 1mm group had the largest scale reduction (0.02mm) significantly, followed by the 2mm and 3mm groups (0.01mm). No difference was found in mean precision. The colorimeter detects the L*a*b* values and showed that 1mm composite plate expressed the highest TP value, then 2mm and 3mm groups (28.90, 14.26 and 6.49 respectively). The thinner composite, the higher translucency and TP were highly positively correlated to IOS trueness of composite plates. Conclusions: Composite translucency has an impact on optical impression accuracy. In correlation, the optical impression becomes less accurate the more translucent the composite is. This implies that in the digital process, the dentist should specify the appropriate optical properties of composite materials concerning both their mechanical and aesthetic qualities. Key words:Accuracy, translucency, resin composite, digital dentistry, intraoral-scanner.

Quantum State Tomography via Nonconvex Riemannian Gradient Descent.

The recovery of an unknown density matrix of large size requires huge computational resources. State-of-the-art performance has recently been achieved with the factored gradient descent (FGD) algorithm and its variants since they are able to mitigate the dimensionality barrier by utilizing some of the underlying structures of the density matrix. Despite the theoretical guarantee of a linear convergence rate, convergence in practical scenarios is still slow because the contracting factor of the FGD algorithms depends on the condition number κ of the ground truth state. Consequently, the total number of iterations needed to achieve the estimation error ϵ can be as large as O(sqrt[κ]ln(1/ϵ)). In this Letter, we derive a quantum state tomography scheme that improves the dependence on κ to the logarithmic scale. Thus, our algorithm can achieve the approximation error ϵ in O(ln(1/κϵ)) steps. The improvement comes from the application of nonconvex Riemannian gradient descent (RGD). The contracting factor in our approach is thus a universal constant that is independent of the given state. Our theoretical results of extremely fast convergence and nearly optimal error bounds are corroborated by the numerical results.

Perceived warmth and competence predict callback rates in meta-analyzed North American labor market experiments.

Extensive literature probes labor market discrimination through correspondence studies in which researchers send pairs of resumes to employers, which are closely matched except for social signals such as gender or ethnicity. Upon perceiving these signals, individuals quickly activate associated stereotypes. The Stereotype Content Model (SCM; Fiske 2002) categorizes these stereotypes into two dimensions: warmth and competence. Our research integrates findings from correspondence studies with theories of social psychology, asking: Can discrimination between social groups, measured through employer callback disparities, be predicted by warmth and competence perceptions of social signals? We collect callback rates from 21 published correspondence studies, varying for 592 social signals. On those social signals, we collected warmth and competence perceptions from an independent group of online raters. We found that social perception predicts callback disparities for studies varying race and gender, which are indirectly signaled by names on these resumes. Yet, for studies adjusting other categories like sexuality and disability, the influence of social perception on callbacks is inconsistent. For instance, a more favorable perception of signals like parenthood does not consistently lead to increased callbacks, underscoring the necessity for further research. Our research offers pivotal strategies to address labor market discrimination in practice. Leveraging the warmth and competence framework allows for the predictive identification of bias against specific groups without extensive correspondence studies. By distilling hiring discrimination into these two dimensions, we not only facilitate the development of decision support systems for hiring managers but also equip computer scientists with a foundational framework for debiasing Large Language Models and other methods that are increasingly employed in hiring processes.

Arginine methylation of DDX3 by PRMT1 mediates mitochondrial homeostasis to promote breast cancer metastasis.

Dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism play important roles in tumorigenesis. Metastasizing tumor cells predominantly utilize mitochondrial metabolism, and regulators of metabolic reprogramming may provide reliable biomarkers for diagnosing cancer metastasis. Here, we identified a PRMT1-DDX3 axis that promotes breast cancer metastasis by coordinating mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy to ensure mitochondrial quality control. Mechanistically, PRMT1 induces arginine methylation of DDX3, which enhances its protein stability and prevents proteasomal degradation. DDX3 mediates mitochondrial homeostasis by translocating to mitochondria where it facilitates PINK1 translation in response to mitochondrial stress. Inhibition of DDX3 suppresses mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy, resulting in diminished cancer stemness and metastatic properties. Overall, this study uncovers a mechanism by which the PRMT1-DDX3 axis regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to support breast cancer metastasis, suggesting strategies for targeting metabolic vulnerabilities to treat metastatic breast cancer.

The Stamping Method Utilizing a Double-Trough Die in Microforming to Enhance Formability.

Currently, the field of microgear manufacturing faces various processing challenges, particularly in terms of size reduction; these challenges increase the complexity and costs of manufacturing. In this study, a technique for microgear manufacturing is aimed at reducing subsequent processing steps and enhancing material utilization. This technique involves the use of trough dies with extrusion-cutting processing, which enables workpieces to undergo forming in a negative clearance state, thus reducing subsequent processing time for micro products. We conducted finite element simulations using microgear dies, measuring stress, velocity, and flow during the forming process of four types of dies-flat, internal-trough, external-trough, and double-trough dies. The results indicated that the buffering effect of the troughs reduced the rate of increase in the material's internal stress. In the cavity, the material experiences a significant increase in hydrostatic pressure, leading to the formation of a "hydrostatic pressure wall". This pressure barrier imposes substantial constraints on the flow of the material during dynamic processes, making it difficult for the material to move into the remaining areas. This effectively enhances the blockage of material flow, demonstrating the critical role of hydrostatic pressure in controlling material distribution and movement. In addition, combining the characteristics of both into a double-trough die enhances the overall stability of forming velocity, reduces forming load and energy consumption, and maximizes material utilization. Results further revealed that microgears manufactured using double-trough dies exhibited defect-free surfaces, with a dimensional error of less than 5 µm and tolerances ranging from IT5 to IT6. Overall, this study offers new insights into the traditional field of microgear manufacturing, highlighting potential solutions for the challenges encountered in current microstamping processes.

Supersoft Norbornene-Based Thermoplastic Elastomers with High Strength and Upper Service Temperature.

With over 6 million tons produced annually, thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have become ubiquitous in modern society, due to their unique combination of elasticity, toughness, and reprocessability. Nevertheless, industrial TPEs display a tradeoff between softness and strength, along with low upper service temperatures, typically ≤100 °C. This limits their utility, such as in bio-interfacial applications where supersoft deformation is required in tandem with strength, in addition to applications that require thermal stability (e.g., encapsulation of electronics, seals/joints for aeronautics, protective clothing for firefighting, and biomedical devices that can be subjected to steam sterilization). Thus, combining softness, strength, and high thermal resistance into a single versatile TPE has remained an unmet opportunity. Through de novo design and synthesis of novel norbornene-based ABA triblock copolymers, this gap is filled. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization is employed to prepare TPEs with an unprecedented combination of properties, including skin-like moduli (<100 kPa), strength competitive with commercial TPEs (>5 MPa), and upper service temperatures akin to high-performance plastics (≈260 °C). Furthermore, the materials are elastic, tough, reprocessable, and shelf stable (≥2 months) without incorporation of plasticizer. Structure-property relationships identified herein inform development of next-generation TPEs that are both biologically soft yet thermomechanically durable.

Effect of Europium and Gadolinium Alloying Elements on the Tribological Response of Low Hydrogen Content Amorphous Carbon.

Dopants and alloying elements are commonly introduced in amorphous carbon (a-C) materials to tailor their mechanical and tribological properties. While most published studies have focused on doping and alloying a-C coatings with metals or metalloids, doping a-C films with rare-earth elements has only recently been explored. Notably, our understanding of the shear-induced structural changes occurring in rare-earth-element-containing a-C films is still elusive, even in the absence of any liquid lubricants. Here, the friction response of Eu- and Gd-containing a-C films with low hydrogen content deposited by HiPIMS on silicon was evaluated in open air and at room temperature. The load-dependent friction measurements indicated that the introduction of Gd ((2.3 ± 0.1) at.%) and Eu ((2.4 ± 0.1) at.%) into the a-C matrix results in a significant reduction of the shear strength of the sliding interfaces ((41 ± 2) MPa for a-C, (16 ± 1) MPa for a-C:Gd2.3 at.%, and (11 ± 2) MPa for a-C:Eu2.4 at.%). NEXAFS spectromicroscopy experiments provided evidence that no stress-assisted sp3-to-sp2 rehybridization of carbon atoms was induced by the sliding process in the near-surface region of undoped a-C, while the amount of sp2-bonded carbon progressively increased in a-C:Gd2.3 at.% and a-C:Eu2.4 at.% upon increasing the applied normal load in tribological tests. The formation of an sp2-bonded carbon-rich surface layer in a-C:Gd2.3 at.% and a-C:Eu2.4 at.% films was not only proposed to be the origin for the reduced duration of the running-in period in tribological test, but was also postulated to induce shear localization within the sp2-carbon-rich layer and transfer film formation on the countersurface, thus decreasing the interfacial shear strength. These findings open the path for the use of Gd- and Eu-containing a-C even under critical conditions for nearly hydrogen-free a-C films (i.e., humid air).

Oral Delivery of Photopolymerizable Nanogels Loaded with Gemcitabine for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy: Formulation Design, and in vitro and in vivo Evaluations.

Background: Gemcitabine (GEM) faces challenges of poor oral bioavailability and extensive first-pass metabolism. Currently, only injectable formulations are available for clinical use. Hence, there is an urgent demand for the development of advanced, efficacious, and user-friendly dosage forms to maintain its status as the primary treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Nanogels (NGs) offer a novel oral drug delivery system, ideal for hydrophilic compounds like GEM. This study aims to develop NGs tailored for GEM delivery, with the goal of enhancing cellular uptake and gastrointestinal permeability for improved administration in PDAC patients. Methods: We developed cross-linked NGs via photopolymerization of methacryloyl for drug delivery of GEM. We reveal characterization, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake studies in Caco-2 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. In addition, studies of in vitro permeability and pharmacokinetics were carried out to evaluate the bioavailability of the drug. Results: Our results show NGs, formed via photopolymerization of methacryloyl, had a spherical shape with a size of 233.91±7.75 nm. Gemcitabine-loaded NGs (NGs-GEM) with 5% GelMA exhibited efficient drug loading (particle size: 244.07±19.52 nm). In vitro drug release from NGs-GEM was slower at pH 1.2 than pH 6.8. Cellular uptake studies indicated significantly enhanced uptake in both MIA PaCa-2 and Caco-2 cells. While there was no significant difference in GEM's AUC and Cmax between NGs-GEM and free-GEM groups, NGs-GEM showed markedly lower dFdU content (10.07 hr∙µg/mL) compared to oral free-GEM (19.04 hr∙µg/mL) after oral administration (p<0.01), highlighting NGs' efficacy in impeding rapid drug metabolism and enhancing retention. Conclusion: In summary, NGs enhance cellular uptake, inhibit rapid metabolic degradation of GEM, and prolong retention after oral administration. These findings suggest NGs-GEM as a promising candidate for clinical use in oral pancreatic cancer therapy.

Inorganic-organic hybrid Cu-dipyridyl semiconducting polymers based on the redox-active cluster [SFe3(CO)9]2-: filling the gap in iron carbonyl chalcogenide polymers.

The construction of sulfur-incorporated cluster-based coordination polymers was limited and underexplored due to the lack of efficient synthetic routes. Herein, we report facile mechanochemical ways toward a new series of SFe3(CO)9-based dipyridyl-Cu polymers by three-component reactions of [Et4N]2[SFe3(CO)9] ([Et4N]2[1]) and [Cu(MeCN)4][BF4] with conjugated or conjugation-interrupted dipyridyl ligands, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpee), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpea), 4,4'-dipyridyl (dpy), or 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (bpp), respectively. X-ray analysis showed that bpee-containing 2D polymers demonstrated unique SFe3(CO)9 cluster-armed and cluster-one-armed coordination modes via the hypervalent µ5-S atom. These S-Fe-Cu polymers could undergo flexible structural transformations with the change of cluster bonding modes by grinding with stoichiometric amounts of dipyridyls or 1/[Cu(MeCN)4]+. They exhibited semiconducting behaviors with low energy gaps of 1.55-1.79 eV and good electrical conductivities of 3.26 × 10-8-1.48 × 10-6 S cm-1, tuned by the SFe3(CO)9 cluster bonding modes accompanied by secondary interactions in the solid state. The electron transport efficiency of these polymers was further elucidated by solid-state packing, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), density of states (DOS), and crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) analysis. Finally, the solid-state electrochemistry of these polymers demonstrated redox-active behaviors with cathodically-shifted patterns compared to that of [Et4N]2[1], showing that their efficient electron communication was effectively enhanced by introducing 1 and dipyridyls as hybrid ligands into Cu+-containing networks.

Temporal stability of tongue microbiota in older patients - A pilot study.

Background/purpose: Healthy states of human microbiota depend on a stable community of symbiotic microbes irrespective of external challenges from the environment. Thus, long-term stability of the oral microbiota is of importance, particularly for older patient populations. Materials and methods: We used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to examine the tongue microbiota of 18 individuals receiving long-term care over a 10-month period. Results: Beta diversity analysis demonstrated temporal stability of the tongue microbiota, as microbial compositions from all time points were indistinguishable from each other (P = 0.0887). However, significant individual variation in microbial composition (P = 0.0001) was observed, underscoring the presence of a unique microbial profile for each patient. Conclusion: The temporal dynamics of tongue microbiota exhibit long-term stability, providing diagnostic implications for oral diseases within older patient populations.

Characteristics, outcomes, facilitators and barriers for psychosocial interventions on inpatient mental health dementia wards: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines state that psychosocial interventions should be the first line of treatment for people with dementia who are experiencing distress behaviours, such as agitation and depression. However, little is known about the characteristics and outcomes of psychosocial interventions or the facilitators and barriers to implementation on inpatient mental health dementia wards which provide care for people with dementia who are often experiencing high levels of distress. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, and Scopus in May 2023, following PRISMA guidelines. Reference and citation searches were conducted on included articles. Peer-reviewed literature of any study design, relating to psychosocial interventions in inpatient mental health dementia wards, was included. One author reviewed all articles, with a third of results reviewed independently by a second author. Data were extracted to a bespoke form and synthesised using a narrative review. The quality of included studies was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included in the synthesis, which together included a total of 538 people with dementia. Study methods and quality varied. Psychosocial interventions delivered on wards included music therapy (five studies), multisensory interventions (four studies), multicomponent interventions (two studies), technology-based interventions (two studies), massage interventions (two studies) and physical exercise (one study). Reduction in distress and improvement in wellbeing was demonstrated inconsistently across studies. Delivering interventions in a caring and individualised way responding to patient need facilitated implementation. Lack of staff time and understanding of interventions, as well as high levels of staff turnover, were barriers to implementation. CONCLUSION: This review highlights a striking lack of research and therefore evidence base for the use of psychosocial interventions to reduce distress in this vulnerable population, despite current healthcare guidelines. More research is needed to understand which psychosocial interventions can reduce distress and improve wellbeing on inpatient mental health dementia wards, and how interventions should be delivered, to establish clinical and cost effectiveness and minimise staff burden.

Administration of oral prednisolone to prevent esophageal stricture after balloon-type radiofrequency ablation for ultralong-segment esophageal neoplasia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has shown good efficacy and safety in eradicating flat-type early esophageal squamous cell neoplasia (ESCN). However, post-RFA stricture is still a major concern, especially when treating ultralong-segment ESCNs. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral prednisolone to prevent post-RFA stricture. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 48 patients treated with balloon-type RFA who had Lugol-unstained or mosaic-like flat-type ESCNs with an expected treatment area of >10 cm. Oral prednisolone was started at a dose of 30 mg/day on the third day after RFA and continued for 4 weeks. The results were compared with an historical control group of 25 patients who received RFA without oral steroids. The primary endpoint was the frequency of post-RFA stricture. Secondary endpoints were the number of balloon dilation sessions and adverse event rate. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the worst pathology grade at baseline and length of unstained lesions between the 2 groups. The complete response rates after 1 session of RFA were 73% and 72%, respectively. Compared with the control group, the oral prednisolone group had a significantly lower stricture rate (4% [2/48 patients] vs 44% [11/25 patients]; P < .0001) and a lower number of balloon dilation sessions (median, 0 [range, 0-4] vs 6 [range, 0-10]). Two cases of asymptomatic candida esophagitis occurred in the study group, but no severe adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Oral prednisolone may offer a useful and safe preventive option for post-RFA stricture in ultralong ESCNs. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT05768282.).

Pharmacological inhibition of the Src homology phosphatase 2 confers partial protection in a mouse model of alcohol-associated liver disease.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading factor of liver-related death worldwide. ALD has various manifestations that include steatosis, hepatitis, and cirrhosis and is currently without approved pharmacotherapies. The Src homology phosphatase 2 (Shp2) is a drug target in some cancers due to its positive regulation of Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and cell proliferation. Shp2 pharmacological inhibition yields beneficial outcomes in animal disease models, but its impact on ALD remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the effects of Shp2 inhibition and its validity using a preclinical mouse model of ALD. We report that the administration of SHP099, a potent and selective allosteric inhibitor of Shp2, partially ameliorated ethanol-induced hepatic injury, inflammation, and steatosis in mice. Additionally, Shp2 inhibition was associated with reduced ethanol-evoked activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), oxidative, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the liver. Besides the liver, excessive alcohol consumption induces multi-organ injury and dysfunction, including the intestine. Notably, Shp2 inhibition diminished ethanol-induced intestinal inflammation and permeability, abrogated the reduction in tight junction protein expression, and the activation of ERK and stress signaling in the ileum. Collectively, Shp2 pharmacological inhibition mitigates the deleterious effects of ethanol in the liver and intestine in a mouse model of ALD. Given the multifactorial aspects underlying ALD pathogenesis, additional studies are needed to decipher the utility of Shp2 inhibition alone or as a component in a multitherapeutic regimen to combat this deadly malady.

Utilization of 3D evaluation for assessing selective caries removal practice in pre-clinical dental students: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Practicing and assessment of selective caries removal techniques in dental students remain challenges in many dental schools. The aim of this study was to utilize a 3D assessment technique, within a designated acceptable range of deviation, to evaluate the tendency of dental students in performing selective caries removal (SCR). The correlation between 3D assessment results and the conventional rubric rated by an instructor was also determined. METHODS: Fifth-year dental students (n = 61) performed the SCR task on 3D-printed teeth containing simulated deep caries lesions in occlusal and proximal surfaces. One instructor assessed the results using a conventional analytic rubric. The excavated teeth were additionally evaluated using 3D analysis software with the designated acceptable range of deviations (± 0.5 mm) from the standard cavities. The average root mean square (RMS) value, representing the deviation between student-prepared cavities and the predefined standard cavities, was recorded. A tendency towards over-excavation was defined for RMS values > 0.5 mm, and towards under-excavation for RMS values < 0.5 mm. RESULTS: The mean (min-max) of RMS was 0.27 (0.18-0.40) for occlusal and 0.29 (0.20-0.57)for proximal cavities. A tendency of dental students toward over-excavation was observed in both occlusal (74%) and proximal cavities (87%). There was a moderate negative correlation between the RMS values and the traditional rubric scores for both occlusal (R2 = 0.148, P = 0.002) and proximal cavities (R2 = 0.107, P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The 3D evaluation technique effectively revealed specific tendencies in dental students' caries removal skills. The integration of computerized assessments with traditional methods could potentially assist the instructors in delivering more objective and specific feedback to students. Further research is encouraged to investigate the impact of this assessment technique on improving student performance in selective caries removal skills.

Effects of beef fat enriched with trans vaccenic acid and cis9, trans11-CLA on glucose homoeostasis and hepatic lipid accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Trans vaccenic acid (TVA, trans11-18 : 1) and cis9, trans11-CLA (also known as rumenic acid; RA) have received widespread attention as potentially beneficial trans-FA due to their putative health benefits, including anti-diabetic properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of beef fat naturally enriched with TVA and RA on parameters related to glucose homoeostasis and associated metabolic markers in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Thirty-six male C57BL/6J mice (8 weeks old) were fed for 19 weeks with either a control low-fat diet (CLF), a control high-fat diet (CHF), or a TVA+RA-enriched high-fat diet (EHF). Compared with CLF, feeding either CHF or EHF resulted in adverse metabolic outcomes associated with high-fat diets, including adiposity, impaired glucose control and hepatic steatosis. However, the EHF diet induced a significantly higher liver weight TAG content and elevated plasma alanine transaminase levels compared with the CHF diet. Collectively, the findings from this study suggest that EHF does not improve glucose tolerance and worsens liver steatosis in DIO mice. However, the adverse effects of EHF on the liver could be in part related to the presence of other trans-FA in the enriched beef fat.

A gauge of coral physiology: re-examining temporal changes in Endozoicomonas abundance correlated with natural coral bleaching.

Bacteria contribute to many physiological functions of coral holobionts, including responses to bleaching. The bacterial genus, Endozoicomonas, dominates the microbial flora of many coral species and its abundance appears to be correlated with coral bleaching. However, evidences for decoupling of bleaching and Endozoicomonas abundance changes have also been reported. In 2020, a severe bleaching event was recorded at reefs in Taiwan, providing a unique opportunity to re-examine bleaching-Endozoicomonas association using multiple stony corals in natural environments. In this study, we monitored tissue color and microbiome changes in three coral species (Montipora sp., Porites sp., and Stylophora pistillata) in Kenting National Park, following the bleaching event. All tagged Montipora sp. and Porites sp. recovered from bleaching within 1 year, while high mortality occurred in S. pistillata. Microbiome analysis found no correlation of Endozoicomonas relative abundance and bleaching severity during the sampling period, but found a stronger correlation when the month in which bleaching occurred was excluded. Moreover, Endozoicomonas abundance increased during recovery months in Montipora sp. and Porites sp., whereas in S. pistillata it was nearly depleted. These results suggest that Endozoicomonas abundance may represent a gauge of coral health and reflect recovery of some corals from stress. Interestingly, even though different Endozoicomonas strains predominated in the three corals, these Endozoicomonas strains were also shared among coral taxa. Meanwhile, several Endozoicomonas strains showed secondary emergence during coral recovery, suggesting possible symbiont switching in Endozoicomonas. These findings indicate that it may be possible to introduce Endozoicomonas to non-native coral hosts as a coral probiotic.

Progress in Serial Imaging for Prognostic Stratification of Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Immunotherapy, particularly with checkpoint inhibitors, has revolutionized non-small cell lung cancer treatment. Enhancing the selection of potential responders is crucial, and researchers are exploring predictive biomarkers. Delta radiomics, a derivative of radiomics, holds promise in this regard. For this study, a meta-analysis was conducted that adhered to PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies on the use of delta radiomics in stratifying lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. Out of 223 initially collected studies, 10 were included for qualitative synthesis. Stratifying patients using radiomic models, the pooled analysis reveals a predictive power with an area under the curve of 0.81 (95% CI 0.76-0.86, p < 0.001) for 6-month response, a pooled hazard ratio of 4.77 (95% CI 2.70-8.43, p < 0.001) for progression-free survival, and 2.15 (95% CI 1.73-2.66, p < 0.001) for overall survival at 6 months. Radiomics emerges as a potential prognostic predictor for lung cancer, but further research is needed to compare traditional radiomics and deep-learning radiomics.

Photo-Responsive Ascorbic Acid-Modified Ag2S-ZnS Heteronanostructure Dropping pH to Trigger Synergistic Antibacterial and Bohr Effects for Accelerating Infected Wound Healing.

Nonantibiotic approaches must be developed to kill pathogenic bacteria and ensure that clinicians have a means to treat wounds that are infected by multidrug-resistant bacteria. This study prepared matchstick-like Ag2S-ZnS heteronanostructures (HNSs). Their hydrophobic surfactants were then replaced with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and thioglycolic acid (TGA) through the ligand exchange method, and this was followed by ascorbic acid (AA) conjugation with TGA through esterification, yielding well-dispersed PEGylated Ag2S-ZnS@TGA-AA HNSs. The ZnS component of the HNSs has innate semiconductivity, enabling the generation of electron-hole pairs upon irradiation with a light of wavelength 320 nm. These separate charges can react with oxygen and water around the HNSs to produce reactive oxygen species. Moreover, some holes can oxidize the surface-grafted AA to produce protons, decreasing the local pH and resulting in the corrosion of Ag2S, which releases silver ions. In evaluation tests, the PEGylated Ag2S-ZnS@TGA-AA had synergistic antibacterial ability and inhibited Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Additionally, MRSA-infected wounds treated with a single dose of PEGylated Ag2S-ZnS@TGA-AA HNSs under light exposure healed significantly more quickly than those not treated, a result attributable to the HNSs' excellent antibacterial and Bohr effects.

Prognostic significances of systemic inflammatory response markers in patients with synchronous esophageal and head and neck cancers.

BACKGROUND: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) frequently develop synchronous esophageal cancer (ESCC), but there is a lack of clinical predictors. The neutrophil to lymphocyte (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte (PLR), and lymphocyte to monocyte ratios (LMRs), reflect the balance between pro-cancer inflammation and anti-cancer immune responses, but their role in HNSCC and synchronous cancer remain uncertain. METHOD: The study consecutively enrolled a total of 717 patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC who received pre-treatment esophageal endoscopic screening. The pretreatment NLR, LMR and PLRs were calculated and analyzed in comparison with the clinical factors. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients (14.4%) were found to have synchronous ESCCs, and were associated with a significantly lower absolute lymphocyte count (p < 0.001), higher NLRs (p = 0.044) and lower LMRs (p = 0.001), but not PLRs (p = 0.49). The ROC curve for the presence of synchronous ESCC verified the optimal cutoff value as 2.5 for NLRs and 4.0 for LMRs. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that a LMR <4 (OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.27-3.88, p = 0.005), alcohol consumption (OR 4.19; 95% CI 1.47-11.91, p = 0.007), tumor location over the pharynx (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.07-2.64, p = 0.025), and low body mass index (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.88-0.99, p = 0.039) were risk factors for developing synchronous ESCC. A low-LMR was significantly associated with decreases in overall survival (p < 0.0001), in both synchronous and non-synchronous groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that LMR <4 (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.38-2.81, p < 0.001), a low-BMI (HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.93-0.99, p = 0.044) and presence of synchronous ESCC (HR 1.56; 95% CI 1.10-2.22, p = 0.013) were independent prognostic factors for HNSCC patients. CONCLUSION: Incorporation of LMR into other identified risk factors, such as alcohol consumption, tumor location over pharynx, and low-BMI, may establish a more efficient screening program for esophageal exploration in HNSCC patients. The significances of LMR also suggest that anti-cancer immunity may play a role in the filed cancerization to initiate multiple cancers, and the immunotherapy may have potentials for prevention or as an adjuvant treatment for synchronous SCC in the future.