Browse Articles

SPP1 is required for maintaining mesenchymal cell fate in pancreatic cancer

Assessment of Mpox knowledge and attitudes among health workers in Egypt and Arab countries based on a national survey and a meta-analysis

Abstract Recent Mpox outbreaks in non-endemic countries have highlighted the importance of global health preparedness. Combined national survey and pooled analysis were conducted to assess the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers (HCWs) toward Mpox in Egypt and the Arab region. An online survey was distributed to HCWs in Egypt, and a literature search of PubMed and other sources was performed to identify relevant studies from Arab countries. Descriptive statistics were utilized for all variables, with chi-square and t-tests used for comparisons. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed, with heterogeneity assessed using the I 2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were conducted to explore factors of heterogeneity. A total of 399 eligible HCWs from various Egyptian health facilities were included. The mean age of participants was 35.6 ± 7.1 years; the majority were female, married, pharmacists, and had at least five years of experience. The survey revealed that only 37.6% of Egyptian HCWs had good knowledge of Mpox, while 97.9% held positive attitudes. The meta-analysis of 30 studies from Arab countries including both HCWs and the general population, showed a pooled proportion of 35% (95% CI: 31%–39%) for good knowledge and 48% (95% CI: 37%–59%) for positive attitude. A higher positive attitude was significantly associated with female gender and HCWs. Significant knowledge gaps regarding Mpox exist among HCWs in Egypt and the wider Arab region, despite generally positive attitudes. This underscores an urgent need to update medical curricula, implement continuous educational programs and launch nationwide awareness campaigns.

The rsmA mutant from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ID4365 is a non-virulent strain that is suitable for pyocyanin and phenazine-1-carboxylic acid production

Phenazines are compounds of medical and biotechnological interest due to their antimicrobial and antitumoral properties. Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a Gram-negative bacterium, naturally produces phenazines such as pyocyanin and phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA). These phenazines can generate reactive oxygen species, which increase oxidative stress in susceptible cells and ultimately lead to their death. Pyocyanin can inhibit the growth of human bacterial pathogens, while PCA serves as a potent antifungal agent that can prevent and control crop diseases. The environmental strain P. aeruginosa ID4365 overproduces pyocyanin, and its derivative strain IDrsmA, which carries a mutation in the rsmA gene, presents a fivefold increase in pyocyanin production compared to the wild-type strain. This mutant is therefore a promising candidate strain for enhancing phenazine production. In this work, we found that the IDrsmA strain has an inactive type three secretion system and is non-cytotoxic. Unlike the wild-type strain ID4365, the IDrsmA strain was unable to infect and kill Galleria mellonella larvae or mice. Besides pyocyanin, the IDrsmA strain also produced increased levels of PCA and 1-hydroxyphenazine. In addition, we showed that the deficient phosphate medium, PPGAS, is the best phenazine production medium compared to PPM or King A media. By optimizing culture conditions, we increased pyocyanin production up to 298 μg/mL using strain IDrsmA. We further modified the IDrsmA strain to produce only PCA, achieving a production level of 303 μg/mL, which is 10 times higher than that of the wild-type strain. Thus, the IDrsmA strain is non-virulent and suitable for phenazine production.

Research on turbulence-removal optical imaging based on multi-scale GAN and sequential images

Biologically-informed regional subset analysis with CatBoost for robust tissue-of-origin prediction

Accurate identification of cancer tissue/cell of origin (TOO/COO) is critical for diagnosis and treatment; yet existing whole-genome approaches demand extensive computation and often struggle with sparse mutation signals. Here, we introduce an informative regional subset framework that selects a small number of biologically and statistically significant 1Mbp genomic intervals to train a CatBoost prediction model. On a benchmark of 137 whole-genome samples across six cancer types, our method achieved a 4% gain in melanoma accuracy (from 88.0% using all 2,128 regions to 92.0% with 300 regions), a 4.4% gain in multiple myeloma (87.0% with 600 regions), and perfect (100%) accuracy in high-mutation cancers such as esophageal adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma with as few as 50 informative regions. When extended to 934 PCAWG samples spanning 14 cancer lineages, the same limited regional subsets matched or improved whole-genome performance, reaching up to 100% accuracy in gastrointestinal, skin, and brain cancers, demonstrating exceptional scalability. Our approach not only reduces computational burden and enhances interpretability but also provides a robust, generalizable tool for precision oncology and the diagnosis of cancers of unknown primary.

A 12-week afterschool game-based physical activity program improves physical fitness of 9-10-year-old children: a randomized controlled study

Trend analysis and projection of gastric cancer burden linked to high sodium intake in China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Mongolia (1990–2021): A comprehensive assessment based on the 2021 global burden of disease study

Background High sodium intake (HSI) is one of the risk factors for gastric cancer. China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Mongolia are among the countries with the highest gastric cancer incidence worldwide. This study aimed to assess the burden of gastric cancer linked to HSI in these four countries from 1990 to 2021, and to project future trends. Methods The 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database was used to analyze trends in HSI-related gastric cancer burden and differences by age and sex in the four countries. Trend changes were evaluated using Joinpoint regression. Decomposition analysis was conducted to assess the relative contributions of demographic aging, population growth, and epidemiological shifts. Future burden was forecast using a Bayesian age–period–cohort (BAPC) model. Results In 2021, the number of gastric cancer deaths in China linked to HSI was 36,958 (95% UI: 0–183,972), with 883,435 DALYs (95% UI: 0–4,461,211). The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) was 1.78 (95% UI: 0–8.81) per 100,000, and the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) was 41.49 (95% UI: 0–208.59) per 100,000. Across the four countries, the burden of gastric cancer due to HSI was greater in males and elderly groups. Trends in ASMR and ASDR showed consistent declines in all four countries according to Joinpoint analysis. Decomposition analysis demonstrated that epidemiological shifts contributed to easing the burden. The BAPC model projected that the ASMR and ASDR of HSI-related gastric cancer would decrease over the upcoming 15 years in the four countries. Conclusions During 1990–2021, ASMR and ASDR for HSI-related gastric cancer declined in China, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Mongolia, yet differences by sex and age remained. Policymakers need to formulate targeted public health measures in light of these differences.

Rewiring the proteome of the Euscelidius variegatus holobiont in response to Flavescence dorée phytoplasma

Abstract The leafhopper Euscelidius variegatus is a laboratory vector of the phytoplasma associated to Flavescence dorée, a severe grapevine disease that threatens viticulture in Europe. Transcriptomic studies have already provided valuable insights into the mechanisms of insect-phytoplasma interactions, but proteomics can offer immediate insights into the cellular functions and metabolic adaptations of the insect and its microbiome to the presence of this plant bacterium. Here, the generation of new genomic data of the E. variegatus holobiont was instrumental in elaborating the first comprehensive proteomic profile of its response to Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp). Both data-dependent acquisition and data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry were used to explore the complex molecular interactions between the insect host, its microbial community, and the phytoplasma. Results indicated a critical role of the insect mitochondria as a shared interface exploited by phytoplasmas for survival and propagation. Additionally, it appeared that the presence of FDp had a detrimental impact on the reciprocal metabolic support between the insect host and its two primary endosymbionts, predominantly resulting in a perturbation in amino acid synthesis and exchange. Proteins upregulated in response to FDp may represent promising targets for disrupting phytoplasma acquisition and transmission, either through rationally designed agrochemicals or gene silencing approaches.

Enhancing the emergency department experience for older adults: Study protocol for the implementation of a comfort menu and cart

Introduction The aging of the population is a global phenomenon, with projections indicating a significant increase in the proportion of individuals aged 65 years and older by 2050. This demographic shift requires adapting emergency department (ED) services to meet the specific demands of older patients, who often present with multiple comorbidities and face challenges such as sensory and cognitive difficulties. EDs, traditionally designed for acute illness and injury management, may not be adequately equipped to meet the unique needs of this vulnerable population. This can result in suboptimal patient experiences, prolonged ED stays, increased hospitalizations, and poorer outcomes. Methods This study protocol outlines a before-and-after study to evaluate the impact of implementing a comfort menu and cart on the experience and outcomes of older patients treated in the ED. The study will be conducted in the ED of Hospital Sírio-Libanês (HSL), a tertiary private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients aged 65 and older who presented to the ED will be eligible for inclusion. Participants will be recruited in two phases: pre-intervention and post-implementation of the comfort menu and cart. Data will be collected through patient and staff interviews, chart reviews, and a 30-day follow-up interview. Patient experience, staff experience, length of hospital stays, hospital costs, ED readmissions, falls, delirium incidence, quality of life, functional status, cognitive performance, and mortality will be assessed. Expected results We expect to demonstrate the positive impact of implementing the comfort menu and cart in the ED on patient-centered outcomes. We anticipate improvements in the experience of older patients and medical and multidisciplinary staff, and hope to identify improvements in other exploratory outcomes. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06681376.

Variance-stabilized cognitive diagnosis via GCN-enhanced graph attention with adaptive relation pruning

Correction: Effect of maternal dietary patterns on infant growth in Baotou, China

A deep learning framework for predicting aircraft trajectories from sparse satellite observations

AttentionDriveNet: Fusion of deep cognitive network with Attention modeling for robust navigation in Self-driving vehicles

Self-driving vehicles are envisioned as automated and safety-focused vehicles facilitating smooth movement on roads. This research proposes a novel, robust, and intelligent navigation framework for such vehicles through an integrated fusion of advanced technologies like predictive analytics with remote sensing and detection for accurate obstacle/object detection. TaskTrek, ViewVerse, and RuleRise form the core of the essential model governing vehicle-environment interaction. TaskTrek handles kinematic trajectory synthesis and space-time traffic modeling, ViewVerse provides LiDAR-based volumetric perception and radar-assisted navigational intelligence, and RuleRise manages topological localization, vehicle actuation, and autonomous decision-making through multimodal sensory fusion. The model applies an iterative Multi-FacBiNet method, which uses the cognitive Fully Convolutional Neural Network (FCNN) method to detect and classify obstacles during vehicle movement on the road. Upon stimulation during vehicle movement, the model provided an encouraging outcome. The fusion of predictive intelligence, Radar, and sensing technologies gave 95.3% proficiency. Minimum obstacle detection, processing, and response delays of 0.116 seconds, 0.105 seconds, and 0.36 seconds, respectively, are recorded. The computed mean obstacle detection accuracy for right, left, front and back camera angles are 88.3%, 83.8%, 91.4%, and 89.9%, respectively. Further, a comprehensive analysis of the model’s performance in different on-road scenarios considering metrics like traffic load, road type, and region density was done. The model generated a very impressive accuracy of obstacle detection on all parameters. The results of this study not only aid in accelerating the development of precise navigation-enabled self-driving vehicles but also in the context of environmentally friendly mobility/motion tracking solutions.

Antibiotic prescribing and antimicrobial resistance awareness among medical students in Lebanon using novel assessment scales

Visual, auditory, and audiovisual time-to-collision estimation among participants with age-related macular degeneration compared to a normal-vision group: The TTC-AMD study

Little is known about whether and to what degree people with different amounts of visual impairment rely on hearing instead of vision for mobility, particularly in judgments of collision. We measured how much importance was assigned to visual and auditory cues during time-to-collision judgments made by people with age-related macular degeneration (Impaired Vision Group; IV) compared to a control group without age-related macular degeneration (Normal Vision Group; NV). A virtual reality system simulated a roadway with an approaching vehicle viewed from the perspective of a pedestrian. Participants pressed a button to indicate the time the vehicle would reach them. The vehicle was presented visually only, aurally only, or both simultaneously. Standardized regression coefficients and general dominance weights indicated that time-to-collision (TTC) judgments were determined by both auditory and visual cues in both groups. In the vision-only modality condition, the relative importance of distance and optical size compared to TTC was higher in the IV group compared to the NV group, but with a relatively small effect size. In all modality conditions, the mean absolute error of TTC estimates was comparable between groups, and a multimodal advantage was not observed. Intraindividual variability was greater in the IV group only in the AV condition. The implication is that similar performance can be achieved through the use of different sources of information. Importantly, people with and without IV achieved similar performance but showed differences in the relative importance of different sensory sources of information. A comparison of two IV subgroups differing in severity suggested that simply having IV in both eyes is not sufficient to predict TTC estimation differences between people with IV and people without IV who have normal vision. Rather it appears to be the degree of bilateral visual impairment of the IV that matters.

Deep learning-based object detection of restorative dental instruments with potential implications for workflow automation and infection control in dental supply units

Oropouche infection in Peruvian patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The Oropouche virus (OROV), discovered in 1955, has evolved from being a pathogen limited to the Amazon basin to becoming a growing threat to public health in Latin America. Because its symptoms are similar to those of dengue and zika, diagnosis is complicated. In this context, the objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of epidemiological and clinical characteristics in Peruvian patients diagnosed with Oropouche. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. An exhaustive literature search was conducted up to April 10, 2025, across ten databases using MeSH terms like “Oropouche” and “Peru,” combined with Boolean operators. Only observational studies conducted in Peru that reported confirmed OROV infections through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and that described clinical or epidemiological characteristics, were included. The methodological quality of these studies was evaluated using the JBI-MAStARI tool. To estimate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals, random-effects models were applied in R (version 4.2.3). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic, and publication bias was evaluated through funnel plots and Egger’s test, when applicable. Results Six observational studies published between 2010 and 2020 were included, involving 396 Peruvian patients diagnosed with OROV by RT-PCR or ELISA. The studies were conducted in Piura, Loreto, Huánuco, Madre de Dios, and San Martín. Most patients were between 20 and 30 years old; 44.9% were male. All studies were of moderate quality. Due to the limited number of studies, publication bias was not assessed. The most common symptoms were fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and retro-ocular pain. Conclusion The findings of this study reveal a significant occurrence of diverse symptoms in Peruvian patients infected with OROV. Due to the clinical resemblance to other arboviruses, it is essential to establish more precise diagnostic methods to prevent misdiagnosis and underreporting. The existing evidence remains limited, highlighting the importance of enhancing epidemiological monitoring, improving diagnostic tools, and creating public health strategies specifically targeted at endemic regions to reduce the effects of this emerging infection.

Reliability-oriented framework for UAV-based inspection missions in modern power and energy systems

Abstract Ensuring mission reliability is vital for the autonomous deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in modern power and energy systems, particularly under spatial and operational constraints. This study presents a data-driven classification method that assesses the reliability of UAV-based inspection missions by identifying whether individual mission locations are suitable, at risk, or infeasible based on spatial and operational parameters. Leveraging the Cumulative UAV Routing Problem (CUAVRP) benchmark, four representative mission scenarios were analyzed, each characterized by unique UAV fleet sizes, sensor ranges, and endurance limits. Synthetic stress nodes were introduced to emulate edge-case conditions encountered in infrastructure inspection tasks. Each node was classified based on three categorical targets: Mission Feasibility, Coverage Reliability, and Deployment Suitability. A gradient boosting classification model was trained on spatial and operational features to determine node status. Evaluation across all scenarios yielded consistently high performance, with the cuavrp_d9_k6_r800 scenario achieving 97.05% accuracy, 96.33% precision, 97.72% recall, and 97.02% F1-score. Furthermore, incorporating physical-layer degradation factors such as signal attenuation, multipath fading, and interference is expected to enhance the realism of future reliability assessments and improve classification robustness. The proposed classification framework supports intelligent mission planning, enhances operational resilience, and facilitates automated UAV deployment strategies in critical inspection environments within the power and energy sector.

CRE-Ter enhances murine bone differentiation, improves muscle cell atrophy, and increases irisin expression

Ternary complex of curcuminoid-rich extract (CRE-Ter) is a developed water-soluble Curcuma longa extract containing 14% w/w curcuminoids, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and polyvinylpyrrolidone K30. This study aimed to investigate the biomolecular effects of CRE-Ter on differentiation of bone cells (murine MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts), muscle cells (murine dexamethasone-treated C2C12 myotubes) atrophy and irisin expression. In MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts, CRE-Ter treatment increased alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and expression of Bmp-2, Runx2, and collagen 1a significantly and dose-dependently. 5, 10, and 20 µg/mL CRE-Ter upregulated β-catenin expression significantly. CRE-Ter improved the atrophy of dexamethasone-treated C2C12 myotubes. CRE-Ter decreased proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) expression but increased FNDC5 and irisin expression and nitric oxide production in dexamethasone-treated C2C12 myotubes significantly and dose-dependently. Dexamethasone promoted β-catenin and total p38 expression in C2C12 myotubes. CRE-Ter at 2.5–20 µg/mL reversed the increase in β-catenin expression, whereas 2.5 µg/mL reversed total p38 expression. Crosstalk experiments further revealed that conditioned medium from C2C12 myotubes enhanced osteocalcin expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Molecular docking simulations using CB-Dock2 showed strong interactions between each curcuminoid molecule and irisin. Therefore, CRE-Ter may stimulate osteoblast differentiation, ameliorate myotube atrophy, and increase irisin expression, indicating its therapeutic potential in osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and osteosarcopenia.

Interfacial gap formation of class II composite restorations with proximal box elevation using bulk-fill materials: a micro-CT study

Abstract To evaluate the effect of proximal box elevation (PBE) using different bulk-fill resin composites on interfacial gap formation of Class II direct restorations at the cervical region using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Standardized two separate box-shaped Class II cavities were prepared on both mesial and distal surfaces of 25 sound human lower molars. Cavities were divided into five groups (n = 10) based on different bulk-fill composites used for PBE: (1) Group SB: sonic-activated bulk-fill, (2) Group EB: low-viscosity bulk-fill, (3) Group VB: thermo-viscous bulk-fill, (4) Group AB: bioactive dual-cure bulk-fill, and (5) Group FZ: no PBE (control)-conventional resin composite. A dual-cure universal adhesive was applied in self-etch mode. In PBE groups, a 3 mm bulk-fill layer was applied before layering conventional composite, while no PBE group was restored using conventional composite. Specimens underwent thermocycling (10,000 cycles, 5–55 °C). Micro-CT analysis measured interfacial gap formation based on radiolucent areas at the gingival floor of tooth-restoration interface. Data were analyzed using Welch ANOVA and Games-Howell post hoc tests ( p  < 0.05). Groups SB and VB showed significantly higher gap formation than Groups EB and AB, as well as Group FZ(control/no box elevation) ( p  < 0.05). No significant differences in gap formation were found between Groups EB, AB, and FZ ( p  > 0.05). PBE with low-viscosity and bioactive dual-cure bulk-fill composites effectively minimized interfacial gaps at the cervical region, suggesting their suitability for deep Class II restorations. PBE using low-viscosity bulk-fill composite resin and bioactive dual-cure bulk-fill composite resin could be preferred due to superior cavity adaptation in the cervical region compared to no proximal elevation.