University scientists team up with IBM to engineer the new molecule atom-by-atom in quantum-centric study.
Get the latest international news and world events from around the world.
Preventing Hand-Foot Syndrome in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, diclofenac and silymarin were the most effective preventive strategies for hand-foot syndrome in patients with cancer, with silymarin requiring confirmation in a larger randomized trial.
Diclofenac emerged as the agent with the best overall supporting evidence, informed by both effect estimates and study quality.
Question Which of the prophylactic agents for treating chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is the most effective for preventing clinically significant HFS in patients with cancer?
Findings In this systematic review and network meta-analysis of 17 randomized clinical trials including 2,192 patients, topical diclofenac, silymarin, 400-mg pyridoxine, and celecoxib significantly reduced the incidence of grade 2 or higher HFS compared with placebo; diclofenac and celecoxib were also effective in reducing overall HFS incidence.
Meaning These findings indicate that diclofenac is the prophylactic agent with the best supporting evidence for prevention of HFS in patients with cancer.
Cardiac Structure Relates to Hemorrhagic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Phenotype
In patients with hemorrhagic cerebral small vessel disease, left ventricular mass is associated with MRI markers of arteriolosclerosis. @UCLStrokeRes
BackgroundMost intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH) are caused by 1 of 2 cerebral small vessel diseases (cSVDs): arteriolosclerosis and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Hypertension is a major risk factor for ICH, but its contribution to the hemorrhagic manifestations of these arteriopathies remains uncertain. We investigated associations between a cardiac structural biomarker of systemic hypertension (left ventricular mass [LVM]) and cSVD neuroimaging phenotype in patients with ICH.
Nuclear PD-L1 regulates YAP-driven transcription via the PGE2-EP4-YAP-importin α3 axis in solid tumors
Satapathy et al. demonstrate that prostaglandin E2 promotes YAP-dependent nuclear translocation of PD-L1 via importin-α3. In the nucleus, PD-L1 cooperates with YAP-TEAD to enhance transcriptional activity, revealing a noncanonical role for PD-L1 in regulating oncogenic gene expression beyond immune evasion.
A superradiant clock phase emerges when Rydberg atoms meet quantum light, simulations suggest
Rydberg atoms are atoms with one or more outer electrons excited to very high energy levels, which interact very strongly with each other. These atoms are widely used to run quantum simulations and develop quantum technologies, as they can give rise to exotic and rare phases of matter.
Researchers at Chongqing University and Chongqing Normal University have uncovered a new highly synchronized quantum phase, known as a superradiant clock (SRC) phase, which could emerge in a system comprised of Rydberg atoms trapped in a triangular lattice constructed with a highly tunable optical tweezer array.
This newly reported phase, outlined in a paper published in Physical Review Letters, could open new possibilities for the simulation of many-body quantum systems and for the creation of cutting-edge quantum optical devices.
Prognostic implications of iron deficiency in patients with atrial fibrillation, with and without chronic heart failure
Background Iron deficiency (ID) is common in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), but its prognostic implications and optimal diagnostic criteria, particularly in those with and without heart failure (HF), remain unclear. This study assessed the associations between different ID definitions and clinical outcomes in patients with AF.
Methods This Danish nationwide cohort study included 10 834 patients with AF who underwent iron studies between 2008 and 2019, stratified by HF status. ID was defined using four criteria: European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, ferritin 100 ng/mL, transferrin saturation (TSAT) 20% and serum iron ≤13 µmol/L. Associations between ID definitions and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause hospitalisation were evaluated using Cox regression models, adjusted for confounders.
Results Prevalence of ID varied substantially across definitions, ranging from 36.2% to 62.7%. Over a median follow-up of 31 months, TSAT 20% was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in both HF (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.37 and HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.49, respectively) and patients without HF (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.64 and HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.00, respectively). Similarly, serum iron ≤13 µmol/L was associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in HF (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.58 and HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.63, respectively) and patients without HF (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.97 and HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.89, respectively). ID defined by ESC guidelines or ferritin 100 ng/mL was not associated with mortality in either group but was linked to higher all-cause hospitalisation in patients with HF (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.23 and HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.23, respectively).
Medaka: a novel model for analyzing genome–environment interactions
Analyzing genome– environment interactions using medaka model.
As a temperate fish species, medaka tolerates fluctuating environments (e.g., seasonal changes and different water salinity levels).
Medaka are highly tolerant to inbreeding; a near-isogenic inbred panel named Medaka Inbred Kiyosu-Karlsruhe panel and several wild-derived inbred strains of medaka have been established.
These panels and strains allow the analysis of phenotype–genotype interactions under different environmental conditions and the modeling of human populations.
Advanced epigenomic approaches, including assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing, highthroughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), and analysis of histone modifications and DNA methylation, extend genomic approaches in our understanding of gene–environment interactions. sciencenewshighlights ScienceMission https://sciencemission.com/Medaka
Medaka is an established vertebrate model system for biological and biomedical research. It possesses unique features that make it particularly suitable for studying genome–environment interactions. Endemic to habitats spanning from 4 to 40°C and varying salinities, it combines broad ecological adaptability with experimental tractability. Its exceptional tolerance to inbreeding enabled the creation of the Medaka Inbred Kiyosu-Karlsruhe panel—80 near-isogenic, fully sequenced lines derived from a single wild population. More than 100 wild-derived, fully sequenced strains, collected throughout East Asia for more than 40 years, show relatively low intra-strain variation (inbreeding coefficient of 0.75) but high inter-strain variability (SNP rates 4%). Advanced quantification methods facilitate genome-wide association studies and quantitative trait locus mapping.
Scientists discover a hidden force that helps wire the brain
Growing neurons rely on chemical cues to find their targets, but new research shows that the brain’s physical properties help shape those signals. Scientists discovered that tissue stiffness can trigger the production of guidance molecules through a force-sensing protein called Piezo1. This protein not only detects mechanical forces but also helps maintain the structure of brain tissue. The discovery reveals a powerful link between the brain’s physical environment and how its wiring is built.