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Survival outcomes and treatment patterns in primary vertebral diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Association of NUDT17 rs9286836 and rs2004659 variants with breast cancer risk in Bangladeshi Women
Breast cancer is a multifaceted illness impacted by genetic factors as well as environmental influences. While variants in the NUDT17 gene have been associated with cancer biology, their involvement in breast cancer is still inadequately investigated, especially within South Asian populations. This study investigated the association between two NUDT17 polymorphisms, rs9286836 and rs2004659, and breast cancer risk in Bangladeshi women using a case–control design. A total of 240 breast cancer patients and 240 age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples, and genotyping was performed using tetra-primer ARMS-PCR for rs9286836 and PCR–RFLP for rs2004659. The statistical methods employed included chi-square tests for genotype distributions and logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Genotyping for NUDT17 rs9286836 was successfully completed for all recruited participants. However, for rs2004659, high-quality genotyping data were available for 204 breast cancer cases and 204 controls after quality control procedures. No significant association was observed between rs9286836 and breast cancer risk across the tested genetic models. In contrast, rs2004659 showed a robust protective association with breast cancer, particularly among heterozygous individuals, and this protective effect was consistently observed across the dominant, over-dominant, and allelic models. Haplotype analysis revealed that the AA haplotype was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, whereas the AG and GA haplotypes were associated with a reduced risk. Expression analysis further demonstrated elevated NUDT17 levels in breast cancer tissues and genotype-dependent expression effects for both variants. These findings suggest a protective role of rs2004659 in breast cancer susceptibility and highlight the potential of NUDT17 polymorphisms as biomarkers in Bangladeshi women.
Clonal dynamics of CH in CLL
Topotactic engineering of high-entropy (oxy) hydroxide nanotubes for enhanced photocatalysis
Energy-efficient path planning for Robotic Bulkhead Inspection using Residual-Enhanced UKF and Hierarchical MPC
Ultrasonic thickness inspection of ship bulkheads poses significant challenges due to confined spaces, dynamic obstacles, and highly variable environments. This paper presents a novel autonomous robotic arm control framework tailored for such conditions, combining enhanced Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) with a hierarchical Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy. We introduce a residual-driven adaptive noise covariance UKF (RD-ANC) integrated with a Huber penalty function (HP-UKF), significantly improving robustness against sensor noise and outliers during real-time mapping and estimation. A Three-Layer Energy-Efficient MPC (TLE-MPC) is designed, comprising: a global planner using Differential Dynamic Programming (DDP) for energy budgeting and coarse path generation; a coordination layer using Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) for obstacle avoidance and adaptive energy trade-offs; and an execution layer leveraging Explicit MPC (eMPC) for sub-5 ms control law computation. Simulation results show the framework achieves real-time obstacle avoidance, stable path tracking, and up to 15% energy reduction during inspection tasks in semi-structured and unpredictable ship environments. This research offers a robust and scalable method for autonomous robotic inspection and lays the foundation for future multi-arm cooperation and long-duration energy-aware deployments.
Timing is everything: the CAR T-cell clock is ticking
How bioRxiv changed the way biologists share ideas — in numbers
ID1 in TAMs promoted the progression of non-small-cell carcinoma via increasing NF-κB/NPM1/SHP1/SHP2 signaling induced M2 polarization
Adaptive knowledge distillation based structure-text embedding integrating for knowledge graph completion
Knowledge graph completion (KGC) is a fundamental task for improving downstream applications like semantic search and question answering. Effective KGC requires integrating structural and description information, allowing them to complement each other’s weaknesses (e.g., long-tail issues or overlooked structural knowledge). Existing work typically integrates structural and description information at the embedding level by feeding structure embeddings into pre-trained language models (PLMs) and coupling them via attention mechanisms, which ensures the complementarity. However, as many KG entities are multi-semantic, exhibiting semantics beyond descriptions in certain triplets and making PLMs struggle to learn them, and current embedding level coupling approaches fail to transfer the entity multi-semantic knowledge learned from the structure model to PLM, the integration effect can be further improved. To alleviate above issue, we propose AKD-KGC , which aims at realizing this knowledge transfer then enhancing the integration effect by adding a teaching-learning procedure based on A daptive K nowledge D istillation during feature integration for KGC task in this work. The AKD-KGC framework integrates two features at the embedding level and use structural models to guide prediction behavior of integration model at the same time, adjusting the weight of PLM through additional supervision and enhancing its learning of entity additional semantics beyond descriptions. AKD-KGC can be applied to both transductive and inductive settings, and has achieved state-of-the-art results on a large number of datasets in both settings, demonstrating the effectiveness of our method. Our code and datasets are available at https://github.com/liqingsong1227/AKD-KGC .
The landscape and evolution of clonal hematopoiesis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and clonal hematopoiesis (CH) both commonly occur in older individuals. To characterize CH in CLL, 620 patients were analyzed (CLL12 [ibrutinib vs placebo] and CLL14 [venetoclax-obinutuzumab (Ven-Obi) vs chlorambucil-obinutuzumab (Clb-Obi)]) using error-corrected next-generation sequencing with a variant allele frequency (VAF) threshold of 0.5%. Median follow-up was 76.1 months, and median age was 68 years. CH was detected in 58.2% of patients, most commonly affecting DNMT3A, TET2, TP53, and ASXL1. Longitudinal analysis in CLL14 revealed persistence of the majority of CH clones during follow-up, whereas in more than half of the patients, additional CH mutations were detected. BAX- and U2AF1-mutated CH emerged during Ven-Obi exposure, and PPM1D-mutated CH emerged during Clb-Obi exposure, highlighting treatment gene–specific selection. Clonal fitness analyses revealed accelerated CH clone expansion during therapy, followed by slower growth after treatment. In vitro, genetically modified CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells harboring BAX mutations showed enhanced survival and decreased apoptosis. CH was associated with neutropenia, and all patients with Richter transformation (RT; n = 11) had CH. Whole-exome sequencing delineated the contribution of CH mutations in 2 of 4 investigated patients with RT. Large CH clone size (>10% VAF) was independently associated with shorter overall survival with placebo (P = .049) and shorter progression-free survival with Clb-Obi after adjusting for age, immunoglobulin heavy chain variable status, and del(17p). In contrast, CH had no prognostic impact in patients receiving targeted therapies. This study demonstrates the high prevalence of CH, highlights its differential impact across CLL therapies, and underscores its adverse influence on patient outcomes.
Utilization of eye care services and associated factors among adults with diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Uganda
Reliability and validity of the fixed-frame portable dynamometer in assessing ankle force sense in individuals with and without chronic ankle instability
Background Deficits in sagittal-plane ankle force sense impair the ankle strategy for counteracting perturbations and are associated with balance impairments in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, standardized assessment devices, such as the CON-TREX dynamometry system, are expensive and impractical. In this study, a fixed-frame portable dynamometer (FF-PD) was developed, and its concurrent validity, discriminant validity, and test–retest inter-session reliability were evaluated in measuring ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion force sense in individuals with CAI, copers, and healthy controls. Methods A total of 72 participants (24 with CAI, 24 copers, and 24 healthy controls) performed force-matching tests utilizing the FF-PD and CON-TREX, and the FF-PD retested one week later. Concurrent validity was evaluated with Pearson correlations; discriminant validity, with one-way ANOVA and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses; and reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC 95 ). Results FF-PD exhibited moderate-to-strong correlations with CON-TREX ( r = 0.597–0.770, p ≤ 0.002). For discriminant validity, the FF-PD effectively distinguished individuals with CAI from healthy controls in plantarflexion ( p = 0.011) and dorsiflexion ( p = 0.034). ROC-derived cutoffs were 12.06% for plantarflexion and 9.57% for dorsiflexion. Test–retest inter-session reliability was good-to-excellent (ICC = 0.794–0.960), with low SEM (0.9%–2.6%) and clinically meaningful MDC 95 (2.5%–7.4%). Conclusion The FF-PD is a valid and reliable device for assessing ankle force sense in plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. It effectively differentiates individuals with CAI from healthy controls, and ROC-derived cutoff values provide clinically interpretable thresholds that may support clinical screening and decision-making, as well as the potential use in monitoring changes during clinical screening and rehabilitation.
Lipid nanotubes unmask neutrophils for complement attack
Abstract Neutrophils, critical components of innate immunity, undergo significant morphological changes during phagocytosis. In this study, we demonstrate that neutrophils exposed to shear stress generate lipid nanotubes (NTs) with a unique composition. Compared with the proteome of whole neutrophils, NTs notably lack cytoskeletal elements and the complement-inhibiting transmembrane protein CD46. Consequently, these NTs are recognized by the complement system and selectively opsonized the complement component C3b. Biophysical characterization of NTs confirmed that their integrity relies on lipid-lipid interactions and that they pinch off from neutrophils to form NT-derived vesicles (NTDVs). We detected C3b+ NTDVs in plasma from patients and animal models experiencing diverse inflammatory conditions, including metastatic melanoma, vasculitis, and polytrauma. Further functional experiments indicate that resting neutrophils phagocytose complement-opsonized NTDVs, leading to cell activation, including the production of reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, our data suggest a significant role for neutrophil-derived NTs in a wide range of inflammatory diseases and reveal a previously unknown mode of cell-cell communication.
Thermofluid and exergy characteristics of MoS2/water nanofluid flow in a flat‑plate solar collector under high‑irradiance conditions
Association between morphometric measurements and disease progression in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with preclinical degenerative mitral valve disease: A retrospective longitudinal study
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) are predisposed to a hereditable form of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) with a high incidence and a high risk of disease progression. Gender is recognized as a risk factor for the development of the disease in the breed. However, patient’s morphological traits associated with disease progression have not been identified. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between preclinical MMVD progression and morphometric features in CKCSs. This was a retrospective, time-to-event, longitudinal study. Medical records of 302 CKCSs were reviewed from April 2019 to January 2023. The final sample size counted 52 adult (≥ 1 year) MMVD-affected CKCSs classified as American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B1, with a minimum 24-month follow-up period and ≥ 2 follow-up examinations. At baseline examination, each dog underwent echocardiography and morphometric evaluation of the body, the head and the thorax; dogs were re-examined at 6- or 12-month intervals, and progression to ACVIM stage B2 was registered as the primary outcome. The median follow-up time was 1270.50 days (interquartile range (IQR, 25 th and 75 th ): 994.75–1525.50 days). In the time-to-event analysis, 17 (32.7%) dogs reached the endpoint, with a median time of 1548 days. Results from the Cox multiple regression analysis with inverse probability weighting (IPW) analysis showed that the following morphometric variables had an association ( p < 0.05) with MMVD progression: thoracic length (hazard ratio (HR): 1.97, p = 0.002), thoracic circumference (HR: 0.61, p = 0.03), and thoracic index (HR: 0.86, p = 0.049). Data obtained from this study suggest that an association between mitral valve disease progression and thoracic morphology exists in MMVD-affected CKCSs classified as ACVIM stage B1. Morphological features should be considered along with other known risk factors for the breed when assessing the risk of MMVD progression in CKCSs.
Calcaneal spur detection from lateral foot radiographs using deep feature engineering
Effect of accentuated eccentric loading countermovement jumps and drop jump training with ladder training versus ladder training alone on sprint performance and change of direction ability in futsal players: A randomized controlled trial protocol
Futsal is a fast-paced, high-intensity 5-a-side sport that demands rapid sprints and frequent changes of direction (COD), critical for match performance. While ladder training is known to enhance agility and coordination, combined effects of accentuated eccentric loading (AEL), countermovement jumps (CMJ), and drop jumps (DJ) increase lower body power, it is unclear how these exercises work together to produce futsal-specific results. This paper presents the study protocol for a randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of AEL CMJ, DJ, and ladder training on sprint and COD performance in futsal players. This 6-week, parallel, single-blinded randomized controlled trial, in which outcome assessor will be blinded to group allocation. A total of 62 recreational and competitive futsal players (aged 18–30 years) from futsal turfs across Sawangi Meghe, Wardha. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to receive AEL CMJ, DJ, and ladder training or ladder training alone, 3 times per week. The primary outcomes are the between-group differences in sprint performance (30-meter Sprint Test) and COD ability (Agility T-Test) from baseline to post-intervention (week 6). In order to compare changes between time points and groups, Primary analysis will be conducted using linear mixed-effects models with participant-level random intercepts, following the intention-to-treat principle (CTRI/2025/04/085611).