Field Of Medicine Research Articles

Advances in non-viral mRNA delivery to the spleen.

Developing safe and effective delivery strategies for localizing messenger RNA (mRNA) payloads to the spleen is an important goal in the field of genetic medicine. Accomplishing this goal is challenging due to the instability, size, and charge of mRNA payloads. Here, we provide an analysis of non-viral delivery technologies that have been developed to deliver mRNA payloads to the spleen. Specifically, our review begins by outlining the unique anatomy and potential targets for mRNA delivery within the spleen. Next, we describe approaches in mRNA sequence engineering that can be used to improve mRNA delivery to the spleen. Then, we describe advances in non-viral carrier systems that can package and deliver mRNA payloads to the spleen, highlighting key advances in the literature in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) and polymer nanoparticle (PNP) technology platforms. Finally, we provide commentary and outlook on how splenic mRNA delivery may afford next-generation treatments for autoimmune disorders and cancers. In undertaking this approach, our goal with this review is to both establish a fundamental understanding of drug delivery challenges associated with localizing mRNA payloads to the spleen, while also broadly highlighting the potential to use these genetic medicines to treat disease.

[The current status and future prospects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for the treatment of knee articular cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis].

The prevalence of articular cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis (OA) is high, affecting a wide range of individuals. The self-repair ability of cartilage tissue is poor, and once damaged, it will irreversibly progress to OA. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in the field of regenerative medicine and are considered one of the most promising seed cells for cartilage repair and regeneration. In this article, based on the latest clinical research findings from both domestic and international sources, the theoretical basis, treatment goals, significance, sources, characteristics, clinical implementation plans, and efficacy of using MSCs for the treatment of cartilage injuries or osteoarthritis are reviewed. The article also discusses the challenges faced and future directions that need to be addressed in the clinical application of MSCs.

Mind the Gap! Working Toward Gender Equity in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease: Present and Future.

Evidence from medicine and other fields has shown that gender diversity results in better decision making and outcomes. The incoming workforce of congenital heart specialists (especially in pediatric cardiology) appears to be more gender balanced, but past studies have shown many inequities. Gender-associated differences in leadership positions, opportunities presented for academic advancement, and recognition for academic contributions to the field persist. In addition, compensation packages remain disparate if evaluated based on gender with equivalent experience and expertise. This review explores these inequities and has suggested individual and institutional changes that could be made to recruit and retain women, monitor the climate of the institution, and identify and eliminate bias in areas like salary and promotions.

Feasibility of teaching and assessing medical students in the metaverse: design and features for its learning efficiency

The metaverse is known as the hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, connected, universal and immersive virtual world that can be accessed via immersive technology devices. One approach to this concept can be achieved through the use of multi-user immersive virtual reality applications.Immersive virtual reality (IVR), which uses gadgets that allow the user to visualize and interact in an enveloping way, is a very attractive technology for teaching purposes. There are many references in the scientific literature about its use for this purpose, including encouraging results in the field of medicine. However, there have not been enough studies assessing how much this type of technology really contributes to learning medicine.This work investigates the feasibility of using the metaverse as an educational tool in medicine. We propose a multi-user immersive virtual reality application for implementing a scene of the metaverse in which medical students are taught. Our work considers that in order to ensure this type of technology is useful in the education of medical students, the technology itself (multi-user IVR) must be designed and implemented for a medical student profile. They usually spend too much time for adapting themselves to use and manage this kind of technology when they are exposed to it for learning. The technology should not be a barrier to acquiring, or disseminating the academic contents themselves. It should act as a catalyst that enhances the speed and capacity for learning medical educational topics. Thus, we present design and user experience specifications that we implemented in an anatomical dissection room in the metaverse, and with which we conducted experiments with 114 sixth-grade medical students. Our results indicate that, based on the design and user experience characteristics that we propose in this paper, the metaverse can indeed serve as a useful and effective educational resource whose technological complexity is no barrier to medical teaching.

The beneficial health effects of puerarin in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: from mechanisms to therapeutics.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death globally that seriously threaten human health. Although novel western medicines have continued to be discovered over the past few decades to inhibit the progression of CVDs, new drug research and development for treating CVDs with less side effects and adverse reactions are continuously being desired. Puerarin is a natural product found in a variety of medicinal plants belonging to the flavonoid family with potent biological and pharmacological activities. Abundant research findings in the literature have suggested that puerarin possesses a promising prospect in treating CVDs. In recent years, numerous new molecular mechanisms of puerarin have been explored in experimental and clinical studies, providing new evidence for this plant metabolite to protect against CVDs. This article systematically introduces the history of use, bioavailability, and various dosage forms of puerarin and further summarizes recently published data on the major research advances and their underlying therapeutic mechanisms in treating CVDs. It may provide references for researchers in the fields of pharmacology, natural products, and internal medicine.

Medical eponyms versus acronyms: what medical terminology is most beneficial to learn? A question of goals.

Appropriate use of medical terminology is one of the core conditions for successful communication in monolingual and multilingual healthcare communities. The modern scientific language is based on the descriptive terminology. However, it is often the case that the advantages of descriptive terminology are at odds with the ability to express complex concepts in just a few words. To solve this practicality problem it is customary to coin abbreviations and acronyms preferred to traditional eponyms. Today eponyms are considered ambiguous and non-descriptive, linked to the terminology of the past. The overview of this study demonstrates that the current habit of using acronyms can increase the scientific descriptive capacity compared to eponyms. On the other hand, acronyms remain ambiguous and more ephemeral than eponyms. Furthermore, eponyms are not as descriptive as acronyms, but they still carry important information for a medical student. If you truly believe in the importance of Medical Humanities in the medical curriculum, two aspects cannot be overlooked. First, eponyms bring students closer in an almost subliminal way to the history of medicine and the non-strictly technical-scientific field of medicine. Second, medicine is a complex science applied to humans and must strive to keep the patient at the center of its interests. Patients and their families preferably ask us to use eponyms. Which terminology to choose for medical students? The teachers have the last word.

Microemulsions based on Acer truncatum seed oil and its fatty acids: fabrication, rheological property, and stability

Aims To construct the microemulsion delivery system (ME) loading ATSO and NA and study their physicochemical characteristics to enhance their stability and water solubility. Methods By plotting ternary phase diagrams, the composition and proportions of the MEs were determined. The physicochemical characteristics and stability of MEs were evaluated by mean diameter, polydispersity index (PDI), pH, electrical conductivity, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), rheological behaviour measurement, and phase inversion temperature (PIT). Results The MEs was composed with EL-40 as a surfactant and specifically with the addition of ethanol as a cosurfactant in NA-loaded ME. The mean diameters of ATSO-loaded ME and NA-loaded ME were 39.65 ± 0.24 nm and 32.90 ± 2.65 nm, and PDI were 0.49 ± 0.01 and 0.28 ± 0.14, respectively. The TEM confirmed the spherical and smooth morphology of MEs. The rheological results indicated that MEs are dilatant fluids with the advantages of low viscosity, high fluidity, and tolerance to temperature fluctuations. The mean diameter and PDI of MEs showed no significant change after storage at 25 °C for 28 days and centrifugation. Conclusion The prepared microemulsions could expand the application prospects of ATSO and NA products in cosmetics, medicine, foods and other fields.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb: Ethnobotanical and availability notes in the Cu Chi district, Vietnam

Houttuynia cordata, a plant with a long history of traditional medicinal and culinary uses across different cultures, has shown effectiveness in treating various ailments in Southeast Asia. The Cu Chi district of southern Vietnam, is home to 35 out of the country's 54 ethnic minority groups, making it an ideal location to investigate the traditional uses and availability of H. cordata within the local community. The study findings reveal notable differences in leaf anatomy, thickness, and vascular bundles, which can be attributed to variations in soil conditions. The Phu My Hung area, characterized by lower soil moisture and nutrient content, indicates more pronounced drought conditions. H. cordata from this region exhibits higher antioxidant capacity and develops lignified cells as an adaptation to dry conditions, thereby enhancing water use efficiency. The findings of this study highlight the significant implications of the distinct populations of H. cordata belonging to the same species. These populations have undergone morphological and physiological adaptations in response to their specific ecological conditions. Notably, the H. cordata population from drought-prone areas such as Phu My Hung exhibits remarkable potential for medicinal applications. This suggests that the unique environmental pressures in these regions have influenced the plant's composition and properties, making it a valuable resource for medicinal research and potential therapeutic developments. The identification and utilization of such adaptations in H. cordata populations could have far-reaching implications in the field of medicine, offering new avenues for drug discovery and the treatment of various ailments.

A novel non-negative Bayesian stacking modeling method for Cancer survival prediction using high-dimensional omics data

BackgroundSurvival prediction using high-dimensional molecular data is a hot topic in the field of genomics and precision medicine, especially for cancer studies. Considering that carcinogenesis has a pathway-based pathogenesis, developing models using such group structures is a closer mimic of disease progression and prognosis. Many approaches can be used to integrate group information; however, most of them are single-model methods, which may account for unstable prediction.MethodsWe introduced a novel survival stacking method that modeled using group structure information to improve the robustness of cancer survival prediction in the context of high-dimensional omics data. With a super learner, survival stacking combines the prediction from multiple sub-models that are independently trained using the features in pre-grouped biological pathways. In addition to a non-negative linear combination of sub-models, we extended the super learner to non-negative Bayesian hierarchical generalized linear model and artificial neural network. We compared the proposed modeling strategy with the widely used survival penalized method Lasso Cox and several group penalized methods, e.g., group Lasso Cox, via simulation study and real-world data application.ResultsThe proposed survival stacking method showed superior and robust performance in terms of discrimination compared with single-model methods in case of high-noise simulated data and real-world data. The non-negative Bayesian stacking method can identify important biological signal pathways and genes that are associated with the prognosis of cancer.ConclusionsThis study proposed a novel survival stacking strategy incorporating biological group information into the cancer prognosis models. Additionally, this study extended the super learner to non-negative Bayesian model and ANN, enriching the combination of sub-models. The proposed Bayesian stacking strategy exhibited favorable properties in the prediction and interpretation of complex survival data, which may aid in discovering cancer targets.

Synergistic Outcomes in Drug Delivery: Exploring Harmonious Architectures of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks.

Pharmaceutical excipients play a crucial role in determining the outcome of delivered therapeutic cargo density. By far, polymers have captured the biggest share in the excipients market. This surge in demand motivated researchers to look for newer and novel polymeric platforms. Interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPN) are a class of polymer in the same polymer blend league, where two different polymer chains penetrate; and align with each other without any sustainable covalent bond. The novel agreement between the polymer chains equips the IPN with the characteristic features of each participating polymer unit, thus making IPN superior to its predecessors. IPN has crossed a long path, especially in the pharmaceutical medicine field, from the mere coinage of the term to widespread usage, especially in drug delivery, where they increased the bioavailability and efficacy of the co-delivered drugs. The current review will highlight the major studies that have led to the current face of the IPN in various pharmaceutical domains. The present review was conducted by comprehensively reviewing published reports within the recent period using multiple keywords related to IPN and its role in drug delivery. Moving forward, continued exploration and innovation in IPN technologies promise to further enhance their applications, offering novel solutions for the challenges in drug delivery and therapeutic cargo density.

Machine learning-aided evaluation of oxidative strength of cold atmospheric plasma-treated water.

Plasma medicine is gaining attraction in the medical field, particularly the use of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) in biomedicine. The chemistry of the plasma is complex, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) within it are the basis for the biological effect of CAP on the target. Understanding how the oxidative power of ROS responds to diverse plasma parameters is vital for standardizing the effective application of CAP. The proven applicability of machine learning (ML) in the field of medicine is encouraging, as it can also be applied in the field of plasma medicine to correlate the oxidative strength of plasma-treated water (PTW) according to different parameters. In this study, plasma-treated water was mixed with potassium iodide-starch reagent for color formation that could be linked to the oxidative capacity of PTW. Corresponding images were captured resulting from the exposure of the color-forming agent to water treated with plasma for different time points. Several ML models were trained to distinguish the color changes sourced by the oxidative strength of ROS. The AdaBoost Classifier (ABC) algorithm demonstrated better performance among the classification models used by extracting color-based features from the images. Our results, with a test accuracy of 63.5%, might carry a potential for future standardization in the field of plasma medicine with an automated system that can be created to interpret the oxidative properties of ROS in different plasma treatment parameters via ML.

Abstract PO5-10-10: Disparities in Work RVUs for Breast and Prostate Cancer Operations

Abstract Introduction: In a vast array of different methods used to quantify healthcare processes, the Relative Value Unit (RVUs) has become the federal precedent set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to assign value to different procedures and processes. The current RVU conversion factor in 2023 is $33.06 per unit. Physician work RVUs, malpractice RVUs (MP RVUs) and practice expense RVUs (PE RVUs) were first implemented in 1992 as a system for assigning payment to physicians while providing administrative budgeting based on clinical and liability expenditures. These values are subject to reevaluation every 5 years at minimum, or as new services become available. The CMS updates it’s RVU model by consulting the American Medical Association’s Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC), which controversially sets higher values in certain fields of medicine than others. This article will objectively analyze the RVUs provided by the CMS to surgical oncologists treating breast cancer and compare them to the RVUs compensated to urologists treating prostate cancer, across multiple modalities. Methods: Work RVUs, practice expense RVUs, and malpractice RVUs were obtained from the CMS 2023 physician fee schedule, using the HCPCS codes to identify the services from their database. Estimated pre-evaluation times, intra-procedure times, immediate post service times, and total procedural times were gathered from the CY 2023 Final Rule Physician Work Time database provided by CMS. The HCPCS codes used for mastectomy variations were 19301 for partial mastectomy, 19302 for partial mastectomy with lymph node removal, 19303 for a simple complete mastectomy, 19305 for a radical mastectomy, 19306 for an urban type radical mastectomy, and 19307 for a modified radical mastectomy. The HCPCS codes used for armpit lymph nodes were 38740 and 38745 for axillary lymph node dissections. The HCPCS codes used for prostatectomy variations were 55810 and 55812 for a radical perineal prostatectomy, 55840 and 55845 for a radical retropubic prostatectomy, and 55866 for a laparoscopic retropubic radical prostatectomy. The HCPCS codes used for pelvic lymph nodes were 38571-38573 for laparoscopic lymphadenectomies. Work RVUs were compared between mastectomy and prostatectomy procedures, and axillary node procedures were compared to those of pelvic lymph nodes. To further asses any true disparities in the values assigned to the operations, a second analysis of work RVUs divided by total operation times were compared between their surgical counterparts. Conclusion: Values collected from CMS indicate 59% more RVUs are provided to urologists for prostatectomies than breast surgeons for mastectomies per procedure, and 12% more per hour of total procedure time. Additionally, the CMS indicates on average 29% more work RVUs are provided to urologists for pelvic lymph node removals than breast surgeons for axillary lymph node removals, and 3.4% more per hour of total procedure time (appendix 1). Breast cancer and prostate cancer have similar incidence and mortality rates, but one affects mostly women and the other only men. The decision by the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services to place a higher value in prostate cancer management is unknown, and elicits future analysis with surveyed procedural data across the nation for statistical significance determination. Appendix 1 allocated work RVUs, practice expense RVUs, malpractice RVUs, and median operative times for prostate cancer and breast cancer operations. Citation Format: Noah Khosrowzadeh, Kyle Chambers, Matthew Gompels, Cyrus Washington, Jessica Meshman. Disparities in Work RVUs for Breast and Prostate Cancer Operations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-10-10.

Recent advances in hepatocellular carcinoma-targeted nanoparticles.

In the field of medicine, we often brave the unknown like interstellar explorers, especially when confronting the formidable opponent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The global burden of HCC remains significant, with suboptimal treatment outcomes necessitating the urgent development of novel drugs and treatments. While various treatments for liver cancer, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy, have emerged in recent years, improving their transport and therapeutic efficiency, controlling their targeting and release, and mitigating their adverse effects remains challenging. However, just as we grope through the darkness, a glimmer of light emerges - nanotechnology. Recently, nanotechnology has attracted attention because it can increase the local drug concentration in tumors, reduce systemic toxicity, and has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of precision therapy for HCC. However, there are also some challenges hindering the clinical translation of drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs). Just as interstellar explorers must overcome interstellar dust, we too must overcome various obstacles. In future researches, the design and development of nanodelivery systems for novel drugs treating HCC should be the first attention. Moreover, researchers should focus on the active targeting design of various NPs. The combination of the interventional therapies and drug-loaded NPs will greatly advance the process of precision HCC therapy.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have garnered significant interest in the field of regenerative medicine for their ability to potentially treat various diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders [...]

Abstract PO1-14-06: Integrated analysis reveals the impact of obesity on triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background: Obesity and overweight status, which has been growing rapidly over the past few decades, is considered as a risk factor for many types of cancers including breast cancer. Despite the multi-omics profile of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been comprehensively characterized, the impact of obesity on molecular features of TNBC is not fully appreciated. Methods: We applied an integrative analysis on clinicopathological data and molecular data (including genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic profiling) using the multi-omics database of TNBC (N = 465) from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) for associations with patient body mass index (BMI). Patients were categorized into overweight/obese (OW/OB, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2) and normal (NL, BMI < 24 kg/m2) group according to the Chinese criteria of BMI. The clinical and molecular differences between OW/OB and NL patients were systematically explored. We also constructed high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse tumor models and used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the impact of obesity on the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we analyzed the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy on TNBC tumors in both obese and normal mice. Results: OW/OB patients exhibited higher proportion of metabolic syndrome, more adipose tissue in the breast and worse survival than NL patients. Among most frequently mutated genes, OBSCN showed statistically significantly less mutated in the OW/OB group (3.2% vs 9.6%), while TP53 (68.3% vs 76.9%) and PIK3CA (21.4% vs 14.1%) had tendency to be different. In terms of copy number alterations, we found OW/OB patients had a higher amplified or gained frequency of 13q14.11 (FOXO1) and a lower frequency of deletion or loss of chromosomal region 7p22.1 (FOXK1). We further dissect the expression profile of TNBC. Differentially expressed gene analysis and pathway enrichment analysis demonstrated that immune and metabolic pathways were the major distinction between OW/OB and NL tumors. OW/OB tumors were characterized with elevated inflammation of tumor microenvironment, as well as higher expression of immune checkpoints. Moreover, analyses focusing on metabolic heterogeneity using transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data revealed upregulation of lipid metabolism and reactive oxygen species pathway in OW/OB group. In addition, our in vivo experiments demonstrated that TNBC in the obese mice displayed faster growth rates. Flow cytometry analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing showed that higher proportion of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and exhausted CD8+ T cells and upregulation of lipid metabolism in HFD group. Applying anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in both obese and normal mice displayed that tumors in the obese mice showed more sensitive to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Conclusion: Our study systematically revealed that obesity might play a significant role in the molecular heterogeneity of TNBC and showed distinct sensitivities to immunotherapy, which should be taken in account in the field of precision medicine. Keywords: triple-negative breast cancer, obesity, immune, tumor microenvironment, metabolism Citation Format: Yue Gong, Peng Ji, Huai-liang Wu, Li-Hua He, Ming-Liang Jin, Xin Hu, Yi-Zhou Jiang, Zhiming Shao. Integrated analysis reveals the impact of obesity on triple-negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-14-06.

Wireless Sensor System Based on Organohydrogel Ionic Skin for Physiological Activity Monitoring.

Supermolecular hydrogel ionic skin (i-skin) linked with smartphones has attracted widespread attention in physiological activity detection due to its good stability in complex scenarios. However, the low ionic conductivity, inferior mechanical properties, poor contact adhesion, and insufficient freeze resistance of most used hydrogels limit their practical application in flexible electronics. Herein, a novel multifunctional poly(vinyl alcohol)-based conductive organohydrogel (PCEL5.0%) with a supermolecular structure was constructed by innovatively employing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) as reinforcement material, ethylene glycol as antifreeze, and lithium chloride as a water retaining agent. Thanks to the synergistic effect of these components, the PCEL5.0% organohydrogel shows excellent performance in terms of ionic conductivity (1.61 S m-1), mechanical properties (tensile strength of 70.38 kPa and elongation at break of 537.84%), interfacial adhesion (1.06 kPa to pig skin), frost resistance (-50.4 °C), water retention (67.1% at 22% relative humidity), and remoldability. The resultant PCEL5.0%-based i-skin delivers satisfactory sensitivity (GF = 1.38) with fast response (348 ms) and high precision under different deformations and low temperature (-25 °C). Significantly, the wireless sensor system based on the PCEL5.0% organohydrogel i-skin can transmit signals from physiological activities and sign language to a smartphone by Bluetooth technology and dynamically displays the status of these movements. The organohydrogel i-skin shows great potential in diverse fields of physiological activity detection, human-computer interaction, and rehabilitation medicine.

Assessment of a Decade of Change in U.S. Assisted Reproductive Technology Cumulative Live-Birth Rates: 2004-2009 Compared With 2014-2020.

To assess the effects of demographic shifts, changes in contemporaneous clinical practices, and technologic innovation on assisted reproductive technology (ART) success rates by conducting an analysis of cumulative live-birth rates across different time periods, age groups, and infertility diagnoses. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of autologous linked cycles comparing cumulative live-birth rates over successive cycles from patients undergoing their first retrieval between 2014 and 2019 in the SART CORS (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System) database. All cycles reported for these individuals up to 2020 were included for analysis. We compared cumulative live-birth rates stratified by age and infertility cause with published data from the 2004-2009 SART CORS database. From 2014 to 2019, 447,042 patients underwent their first autologous index retrieval, resulting in 1,007,374 cycles and 252,215 live births over the period of 2014 to 2020. In contrast, between 2004 and 2008, 246,740 patients underwent 471,208 cycles, resulting in 140,859 births by 2009. Noteworthy shifts in demographics were observed, with an increase in people of color seeking reproductive technology (57.9% vs 51.7%, P<.001). There was also an increase in patients with diminished ovarian reserve and ovulatory disorders and a decrease in endometriosis, tubal, and male factor infertility (P<.001). Previously associated with decreased odds of live birth, frozen embryo transfer and preimplantation genetic testing showed increased odds in 2014-2020. Preimplantation genetic testing rose from 3.4% to 36.0% and was associated with a lower cumulative live-birth rate for those younger than age 35 years (P<.001) but a higher cumulative live-birth rate for those aged 35 years or older (P<.001). Comparing 2014-2020 with 2004-2009 shows that the overall cumulative live-birth rate improved for patients aged 35 years or older and for all infertility diagnoses except ovulatory disorders (P<.001). This analysis provides insights into the changing landscape of ART treatments in the United States over the past two decades. The observed shifts in demographics, clinical practices, and technology highlight the dynamic nature of an evolving field of reproductive medicine. These findings may offer insight for clinicians to consider in counseling patients and to inform future research endeavors in the field of ART.

New Frontiers in Breast Cancer Imaging: The Rise of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been implemented in multiple fields of medicine to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. AI implementation in radiology, more specifically for breast imaging, has advanced considerably. Breast cancer is one of the most important causes of cancer mortality among women, and there has been increased attention towards creating more efficacious methods for breast cancer detection utilizing AI to improve radiologist accuracy and efficiency to meet the increasing demand of our patients. AI can be applied to imaging studies to improve image quality, increase interpretation accuracy, and improve time efficiency and cost efficiency. AI applied to mammography, ultrasound, and MRI allows for improved cancer detection and diagnosis while decreasing intra- and interobserver variability. The synergistic effect between a radiologist and AI has the potential to improve patient care in underserved populations with the intention of providing quality and equitable care for all. Additionally, AI has allowed for improved risk stratification. Further, AI application can have treatment implications as well by identifying upstage risk of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive carcinoma and by better predicting individualized patient response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. AI has potential for advancement in pre-operative 3-dimensional models of the breast as well as improved viability of reconstructive grafts.

Glycoconjugates: Advances in modern medicines and human health.

Glycans and their glycoconjugates are complex biomolecules that are crucial for various biological processes. Glycoconjugates are found in all domains of life. They are covalently linked to key biomolecules such as proteins and lipids to play a pivotal role in cell signaling, adhesion, and recognition. The diversity of glycan structures and the associated complexity of glycoconjugates is the reason for their role in intricate biosynthetic pathways. Glycoconjugates play an important role in various diseases where they are actively involved in the immune response as well as in the pathogenicity of infectious diseases. In addition, various autoimmune diseases have been linked to glycosylation defects of different biomolecules, making them an important molecule in the field of medicine. The glycoconjugates have been explored for the development of therapeutics and vaccines, representing a breakthrough in medical science. They also hold significance in research studies to understand the mechanisms behind various biological processes. Finally, glycoconjugates have found an emerging role in various industrial and environmental applications which have been discussed here.

Preparation and drug release performance of different gelation type polysaccharide/β-lactoglobulin fiber composite gels

Self-assembled protein fibers have attracted much attention in the fields of medicine and food because of their high aspect ratio, polymorphic structure and strong surface hydrophobicity. In this study, three different gelation types of polysaccharides/β-lactoglobulin fiber (Fblg) composite gels, including ionic alginate-Fblg gels, synergistic xanthan-Fblg gels, and double network agar-Fblg gels, were first prepared. The interactions between the polysaccharides and the Fblgs, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite gels were investigated using the light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, rheology and texture analysis in order to reveal their formation mechanisms. Then the loading and release properties of the water-soluble drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and the hydrophobic drug curcumin (Cur) through these composite gels were further studied with release mechanisms determined by fitting different release models. It was found that the mechanical properties of the composite gels were determined by the mesh density of the three-dimensional networks formed inside the gels. The network structure and mechanical strength of the alginate-Fblg gels became weaker with the increase of Fblg content at pH 4 due to their attractive interaction which hindered the binding of Ca2+ to ALG, while the network and the strength of the alginate-Fblg gels didn't change much at pH 7 due to the repulsion between Alg and Fblg. The xanthan-Fblg gels formed lamellar structures with enhanced gel network and mechanical strength due to the hydrogen bonding and the electrostatic interaction with Fblg. The Agar-Fblg composite gel formed at 60 °C (above the gelation temperature of agar of 40 °C) had a denser double network structure and higher mechanical strength than that formed at 0 °C due to inhibition of diffusion of Ca2+ as salt bridges for Fblg. The hydrophilic drugs were loaded in the meshes of the composite gels and their release was determined by the structure of the composite gel networks, whereas the hydrophobic drugs were loaded by attaching to the Fblgs in the composite gels and their release was determined by the loading ability and strength of the gels. The study not only provided a new idea for the preparation and application of polysaccharide-protein fiber composite hydrogels, but also provided insights for improving the efficiency of drug carriers.