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The fundamental operational range of cyborg insects, which are hybrid robots that combine a living insect with an electronic controller, is inherently restricted to the host's natural environment. To extend their operational range, we developed a wearable diving suit for terrestrial insects. The suit integrates a miniaturised oxygen generation module with a flexible waterproof shell, enabling continuous oxygen supply and isolation from surrounding water. By fitting a cockroach, which is a terrestrial species, into this diving suit, we allowed it to survive and operate in oxygen-deprived environments such as underwater, transforming it into an amphibious cyborg robot capable of operation across land and water. The suit sustained respiration and locomotion for up to 3 h underwater, establishing amphibious cyborg insects that combine biological adaptability with engineered protection for prolonged exploration in extreme, confined environments.
Age-related declines in muscle strength and neuromuscular control make sit-to-stand transitions and walking progressively more difficult, compromising mobility and independence. Although wearable assistive technologies have been proposed to alleviate these challenges, few have demonstrated clear benefits in facilitating sit-to-stand movements for older adults who retain a degree of independent mobility. Here, we introduce a soft hip exosuit designed to assist both sit-to-stand transitions and walking activities. In a feasibility study involving ten older adults, the exosuit increased 1-minute sit-to-stand repetitions by an average of 1.8 and reduced the metabolic cost of walking by 13.6% compared with the unassisted condition. These improvements were achieved while preserving natural kinematics, lower-limb stability, and maintaining a strong sense of agency. Our findings demonstrate that soft exosuits can enhance sit-to-stand and walking performance in older adults while preserving biomechanical naturalness and user autonomy, highlighting their potential for practical home-integrated mobility assistance.
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) with electrons is associated with higher rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in early-stage breast cancer than whole-breast external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Although limited randomized and retrospective data suggest that this approach may suit a subset of patients, its role remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare oncological outcomes between technically optimal IORT with electrons and whole-breast EBRT in suitable patients with breast cancer. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, patients were grouped by radiation treatment: IORT with electrons or whole-breast EBRT. Endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS), local control, and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS). From January 2011 to December 2021, 204 eligible patients were reviewed (IORT, 74; EBRT, 130). The median follow-up was 5.1 years. The 5-year DFS rates were 95.61% for IORT and 98.08% for EBRT (log-rank P = .02). The 5-year local control rates were 98.46% for IORT and 100% (no event) for EBRT (log-rank P = .07). The 5-year BCSS rates were comparable: 98.61% for IORT and 100% (no event) for EBRT (log-rank P = .23). On univariable analysis for DFS, receipt of systemic treatment was a statistically significant protective factor (hazard ratio, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.74). Receipt of whole-breast EBRT was associated with a reduced risk of events, although this did not reach statistical significance (hazard ratio, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-1.01). IORT with electrons was associated with a modest but statistically significant reduction in 5-year DFS in appropriately selected patients compared with whole-breast EBRT, whereas BCSS remained comparable between groups. Therefore, electron-based IORT should be approached with caution and reserved for patients who prioritize treatment convenience.
Various forms of electrical stimulation have been integrated into the multimodal management of spasticity. However, high-frequency electrical stimulation can potentially induce muscle fatigue. The Exopulse Mollii Suit (EMS) is a multichannel full-body garment that delivers low-frequency (20 Hz), low-amplitude (20 V), subthreshold sensory stimulation aimed at reducing spasticity. Primarily, we examined the effects of a single session of the EMS on spasticity in 7 participants with chronic stroke or cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), specifically those with upper or lower limb spasticity impacting function and gait who were able to walk with minimal or no assistance (Functional Ambulatory Category scores of 2-5). We assessed the impact on gait and ambulatory function, as well as user perceptions of usability and acceptability. Participants wore the EMS for 60 minutes, consisting of 30 minutes of standardized goal-directed activities performed in two 15-minute blocks, interspersed with 15-minute rest breaks. Measurements included the Modified Tardieu Scale with surface electromyography for spasticity and functional mobility tests (Functional Ambulatory Category, 10-meter walk test, 5 times sit-to-stand test, and step test). Spatiotemporal gait parameters were quantified using a markerless vision-based motion capture system using the OpenPose BODY25 pose estimation model. On the basis of the Modified Tardieu Scale and surface electromyography signals, improvements in spasticity were only observed in 2 participants. However, 4 participants demonstrated faster walking speeds. Improvements in the 5 times sit-to-stand test and step test were noted in 3 and 4 participants, respectively. Spatiotemporal gait parameters revealed improvements in gait symmetry in 6 participants. Qualitative feedback based on the Assistive Technology Usability Questionnaire for People With Neurological Diseases (NATU Quest) returned positive results in 3 participants. Overall outcomes, defined as meeting the individualized goals of each participant, were positive in 4 participants. This case series provides preliminary evidence that a single session with the EMS may offer benefits for functional mobility and gait quality for individuals with spasticity resulting from stroke or SCI. To our knowledge, this is the first report examining the effects of the EMS in participants with SCI and the first to include spatiotemporal gait parameters associated with its use. However, the small sample size, variable outcomes, and lack of a control group necessitate caution in interpreting these findings and preclude definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of the EMS. Larger, controlled trials with repeated sessions of EMS use are required to establish the effectiveness and optimal application of the EMS for spasticity management.
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Developing rapid, integrated sensing platforms for on-site pesticide monitoring is critical for food safety evaluation. However, current field-deployable sensors often suffer from poor stability and matrix interference. Herein, a catalytic/fluorescent multifunctional nanostructure (Ru-CN/UCNPs@ZIF-8) was engineered by co-encapsulating oxidase-like Ru-CN and upconversion nanoprobes within a ZIF-8 framework. This integrated architecture enables the highly sensitive detection of chlorpyrifos via the specific inhibition of an acetylcholinesterase-mediated fluorescence recovery cascade. To realize on-site visualization, the sensing system was incorporated into a GelMA hydrogel. Coupled with smartphone imaging, this hydrogel platform achieved a quantitative limit of detection of 1 ng mL-1, exceptional 28-day storage stability, and reliable recoveries (88.78%-112.38%) in fruit and vegetable matrix extraction. Finally, to ensure stable signal acquisition under complex field conditions, a custom portable device featuring an independent excitation module and power supply was fabricated. By effectively isolating environmental light, this hardware-assisted strategy provides a highly stable and precise tool for rapid food safety screening.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324558.].
Aging is accompanied by declines in cognitive, sensory, and motor functions that can adversely affect everyday activities, such as walking while performing a concurrent cognitive task. In this study, we investigate the effects of age and age simulation on dual-task performance, specifically focusing on gait and memory. We compare three groups: young adults (n = 28, Mage = 21.82, SDage = 1.96), young adults wearing an age simulation suit (n = 28, Mage = 22.07, SDage = 1.51), and older adults (n = 28, Mage = 72.82, SDage = 6.74). Participants performed a 2-minute walking test (walking as fast as possible) and a word memory test (learning words presented on a piece of cardboard) under single- and dual- task conditions (repeated measures). Gait parameters, including walking speed, cadence, stride length, and double-support time were recorded using a wearable motion capture system. Mixed-design ANOVAs were conducted with Group as a between-subjects factor and Task Condition as a within-subjects factor. The analyses revealed significant main effects of Task Condition, indicating impairments in both cognitive and gait performance under dual-task conditions (both p < .001), as well as significant main effects of Group, with older adults exhibiting the poorest performance overall (both p < .001). Notably, while memory performance did not differ significantly between young adults with and without the age simulation suit (p = .729), the suit resulted in significantly slower gait speed (p < .001) and alterations in other gait parameters approximating older adults' gait profiles. These results underscore that declines in central attentional capacity combined with peripheral deficits contribute to dual-task interference, potentially increasing instability and fall risk in older populations. Importantly, the group differences reveal how these mechanisms contribute in different ways to age-related performance declines.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is increasingly used to build electrochemical sensing platforms because it allows researchers to create complex geometries, combine multiple functional components in a single device, and adjust sensor designs to suit specific analytical applications. In this context, fused filament fabrication (FFF) has gained increasing attention for its ability to use conductive thermoplastic filaments and its suitability for rapid design iterations. This review summarizes recent research on electrochemical sensors produced by FFF printing, emphasizing how factors such as printing parameters, filament composition, post-printing processes, and device design affect electrochemical performance. The discussion also addresses ongoing issues with reproducibility, surface accessibility, and inconsistencies in reported performance. In addition, the review considers a range of routinely employed approaches to enhance electrode performance, including mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical activation, and stresses the importance of achieving an appropriate trade-off between sensitivity, stability, and other practical constraints.
The cerebellum contributes to sensory, cognitive, emotional, and pain-modulatory processes beyond motor coordination. In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), alterations in spontaneous cerebellar neural activity and strengthened functional connectivity with limbic structures have been reported, suggesting involvement of central neuroplastic mechanisms. Mandibular displacement and occlusal imbalance may further modulate brain networks related to motor regulation, sensory integration, and pain-related emotional processing.In this study, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) was used to examine cerebellar connectivity across different mandibular positions in a patient with painful TMD. Functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging were acquired in three conditions: centric occlusion, centric relation, and stabilization splint. Cerebellar regions of interest were defined using SUIT parcellation, and position-dependent structural-functional connectivity was assessed using diffusion-based tractography and Δ-metrics computed as the difference between the two tractography-derived matrices (Δ = MNI_NORM - COUNT_NORM); scale-invariant similarity metrics were used for between-condition comparisons.Under centric occlusion (CO), the Δ-derived connectivity pattern was sparse and included ROIs with zero-variance profiles, yielding mathematically undefined correlation entries; these were treated as missing values. In contrast, centric relation and stabilization splint conditions demonstrated heterogeneous Δ patterns and structured ROI-wise correlation profiles.In contrast, both centric relation and stabilization splint conditions showed moderate effect sizes in summary metrics. Pairwise comparison of vectorized Δ matrices (upper triangle; N = 378 ROI pairs) demonstrated a moderate association between CR and splint (Pearson r = 0.452, 95% CI 0.368-0.527; p = 2.0 × 10⁻²⁰; cosine similarity = 0.428). The Euclidean distance between Δ vectors was 1554.5, corresponding to a normalized per-element RMS difference of 81.1, and the mean absolute difference was 42.2.These single-subject findings suggest that mandibular position may be associated with measurable differences in Cerebellum-SUIT connectivity profiles in painful TMD. The results should be interpreted as exploratory and hypothesis-generating, and they require confirmation in larger prospective studies before clinical or therapeutic implications can be inferred.
Consumer involvement in clinical trials has developed to be a critical driver of feasibility and real-world translation. In gynaecological oncology, patient and clinician priorities can differ, particularly regarding acceptable risks and treatment burden. Vulvar cancer treatment typically involves a groin lymph node dissection, which carries significant morbidity, effecting the long-term health of patients. To address these harms, the Australian National Vulvar Cancer (ANVU) Phase 3 international randomised clinical trial (NCT06476639) will compare standard upfront groin lymph node dissection with serial groin ultrasound monitoring, a less invasive option, to reduce treatment burden without compromising survival. In this paper, research methodologists collaborated to bring consumer perspectives into the trial design to ensure the outcomes reflect what matters most to patients. We conducted a structured co-design workshop involving patients with lived experience of vulvar cancer as well as a multidisciplinary research team. The workshop explored priorities across three stages of care to determine the outcome measures for a clinical trial: before treatment, during treatment, and after treatment. Priority in the short-term was complete cancer removal, with acceptance of some short-term adverse effects. Medium-term priorities focused more on quality of life and functional recovery, as well as fear of recurrence. While long-term priorities identified avoiding chronic harms such as lymphoedema and maintaining a normal daily life, as important. These insights informed the trial's primary endpoint (survival following nodal metastasis at 30 months) and patient-centred secondary outcomes such as health-related quality of life, return to usual activities, and reduced chronic harms. Patient priorities shift as they progress through the various stages of cancer treatment, highlighting the need for dynamic, patient-centred clinical trial designs. The ANVU trial aims to incorporate true co-design in complex surgical oncology research. With consumers as research partners, the team has produced a trial protocol that is scientifically robust as well as grounded in lived experience, increasing its potential for real-world impact. The current paper focuses on co-design of the outcome measures of the trial, however consumer involvement will remain ongoing throughout the ANVU trial to ensure that the research outcomes are accessible and enable women to be provided with treatment options which suit their needs. Clinical trials have traditionally focused of patient survival and been driven by researchers to identify areas of need. Medical research is shifting toward a patient-centred approach, prioritising what matters most to those directly affected. This paper outlines how researchers and women with lived experience of vulvar cancer, a rare cancer affecting the skin and tissue of the vulvar, collaborated to design the outcome measures for an international clinical trial. The trial aims to reduce treatment burden without increasing cancer risk, to ensure women can maintain quality of life after cancer. The collaborative workshop explored what mattered most at three stages of care: before treatment, during treatment, and after treatment. Revealing patient priorities shift over time, with complete cancer removal being a priority in early treatment, functional recovery and fear of recurrence as medium-term priorities, and wellbeing considered in the longer-term. By embedding these insights into the clinical trial, the research team aim to influence everyday clinical decisions and support women to make treatment choices that best suit their individual needs and improve wellbeing.
Sertraline, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been implicated as a drug with repurposing capacities in cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer efficacy of sertraline alone and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. Antiproliferative effects of sertraline and chemotherapeutic agents against SUIT-2, AsPC-1, and MIA-PaCa-2 PDAC cells, either alone or in combination, were determined by MTT assay. Synergistic combinations were further evaluated by clonogenic assays, cell cycle analysis, and Hoechst 33258 apoptosis staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were quantified using the DCFH-DA assay. Sertraline exhibited antiproliferative activity against PDAC cells (IC50 = 8.3-16.4 µM). When combined with gemcitabine or mitoxantrone, synergistic cytotoxicity was observed in most cell lines; however, the sertraline-gemcitabine combination demonstrated an additive effect in MIA-PaCa-2 cells. Mean CI values of 0.54 ± 0.06 and 0.80 ± 0.03 in SUIT-2 cells, 0.81 ± 0.04 and 0.79 ± 0.06 in AsPC-1 cells, and 1.06 ± 0.05 and 0.79 ± 0.05 in MIA-PaCa-2 cells, respectively. These combinations suppressed colony formation, altered the cell cycle, and enhanced apoptosis. Additionally, increased ROS generation was observed, particularly in the sertraline-gemcitabine combination, suggesting that oxidative stress may contribute to this interaction. Combinations with doxorubicin or cisplatin did not lead to synergism. These findings provide a rationale for further investigation of sertraline-based combination strategies in pancreatic cancer.
Evidence on the effectiveness of electromyostimulation (EMS) has been reported in pulmonary rehabilitation, but the benefits have been limited in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and clinical trials in advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were not considered feasible. Recently, whole-body EMS (WB-EMS) has been developed and applied in the area of non-medical commercial application. To date, there are no reports on the application of medical WB-EMS for respiratory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of WB-EMS as an adjunct to pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic respiratory disease. This is a protocol for a pilot, single group, feasibility trial. The e-skin is an EMS suit that can simultaneously load the muscles of the entire body (Xenoma Inc., Tokyo, Japan). Participants will conduct one session per day, once a week for 4 weeks. They perform resistance exercise trainings during EMS under the supervision and guidance of a trained physiotherapist or respiratory physician as a trainer. A physiotherapist controls the HUB attached to the suit with a dedicated mobile application. Each setting of EMS is determined by each segment of electrical stimulation and meets the recommended regimen and guideline criteria for WB-EMS operation. Outcome measures will include Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale, pulmonary function test, health-related quality of life, exercise tests including six-minute walk test and one-minute sit-to-stand-test, Barthel Index, muscle strength, body composition analysis, and blood tests such as muscle markers and renal function markers. To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, participant adherence, retention, and perceived burden will be evaluated. WB-EMS can stimulate both type I and type II muscle fibers and may help counteract preferential type II fiber atrophy frequently observed in CRD. This pilot study focuses on verifying the feasibility and acceptability of WB-EMS as an adjunct to pulmonary rehabilitation. By providing a physiologically distinct, time-efficient training modality that minimizes cardiopulmonary load, WB-EMS could become a promising rehabilitation option for patients with limited exercise tolerance. UMIN-CTR, UMIN000057270. Retrospectively registered 12 March 2025.
Educators face persistent challenges in fostering deep understanding of abstract STEM concepts. Theories of embodied cognition propose that grounding abstract ideas in bodily action and perception can enhance learning. Teachers often intuitively use embodied pedagogies such as gesturing and hand-drawing in the classroom, both by performing these themselves or asking students to do these actions, yet the comparative effects of these different types of embodied pedagogies are not well understood. Furthermore, the effect of these pedagogies needs to be put into perspective of students' varying levels of prior understanding. It is unlikely that a single pedagogy will suit all learners. Building on research examining how embodied pedagogies interact with prior knowledge, we contrasted gesture-based and hand-drawing-based instruction in a college-level introductory statistics and data science course. Students were randomly assigned to view instructional videos that enacted either drawing or gesture then reenacted the demonstrated actions. Results showed that prior knowledge significantly moderated instructional effectiveness: For low-prior-knowledge learners, gesture-based instruction outperformed drawing-based instruction, whereas no difference emerged for high-prior-knowledge learners. The findings of this study contribute to our theoretical understanding of how embodied pedagogies impact learning and offer practical insights for tailoring embodied pedagogies to learners' prior knowledge in the classroom.
Flexible behavior requires using past experiences to configure cortical computations to suit current task demands. A central question in neuroscience is how memory representations control such reconfigurations. Although hippocampal (HPC) engrams can drive learned behaviors, prior studies have been largely limited to a fixed stimulus-response computation. Thus, whether engrams can drive retrieval of a set of stimulus-response mappings, rather than a specific response itself, remains unresolved. Moreover, how engrams affect cortical task representations and dynamics so as to produce engram-consistent behavior remains unstudied. Here, we address both questions by combining tagging and reactivation of HPC engrams with simultaneous large-scale recordings in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during a context-dependent task-switching paradigm in mice. We report that HPC engram reactivation caused mice to apply engram-consistent decision-rules rather than a specific motor output. Simultaneous mPFC recordings revealed that reactivating the HPC engram for a given context reinstated the representation of that context in mPFC within hundreds of milliseconds, indicating that it was mediated by rapid network effects, leading to choice behavior consistent with the reactivated HPC engram. Other aspects of endogenous dynamics in mPFC were left remarkably intact. Together, our findings provide direct causal evidence that HPC engrams can configure task-relevant population states of downstream cortical circuits in real time, establishing a neural mechanism by which memory traces control flexible behavior.
Bioorthogonal chemistry is commonly used in chemical biology for the ligation of biomolecules and exogenous probes. The traditional copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition and strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition remain key methods of ligating molecules, driven by transition metal catalysis in the former case and by built-in ring strain in the latter. While these 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions famously employ azides to react with alkynes, an alternative reaction partner is found in nitrones, which provide corresponding copper(I)-catalyzed and strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloadditions. The latter are known to achieve faster kinetics than the corresponding azide reactions. Nitrones are also opportune for synthetically accessible electronic tuning of reaction rates, making them ideal for the design of mutually orthogonal labeling approaches. Our lab has demonstrated the versatility of alkyne-nitrone cycloadditions and developed straightforward workflows for the use of copper(I)-catalyzed and strain-promoted ligation reactions for bacterial labeling, including mutually orthogonal dual-labeling schemes. This chapter provides a sample of these methods, which may be easily adapted to suit the specific needs of a given system, for investigators seeking to take advantage of these simple and high-speed bioconjugation reactions.
Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is a minimally invasive alternative to colonoscopy, but its diagnostic performance depends entirely on adequate mucosal cleansing (adequate cleansing rate, ACR) and complete colonic transit (completion rate, CR). These requirements impose stringent preparation demands. Existing systematic reviews (SRs) show substantial heterogeneity in recommendations. To identify optimal CCE preparation strategies. Umbrella review (overview of SRs). A comprehensive literature search was conducted through November 2025 for SRs and meta-analyses (MAs) assessing CCE bowel preparation regimens. Methodological quality was assessed using AMSTAR2, and primary study overlap was quantified using the Corrected Covered Area (CCA). Outcomes included ACR and CR, stratified by preparation components. Fourteen SRs (11 MAs) encompassing 102 primary studies (moderate overlap, CCA 8.59%) were included. Pooled ACR (72.5%-76.8%) and CR (79.8%-83.0%) remained below colonoscopy benchmarks. In inflammatory bowel disease, ACR varied widely (49%-98.5%) with no superior regimen. In the general population, low-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG <4 L) yielded higher ACR (77.5%) than high-volume PEG (72.9%). Sodium phosphate (NaP) boosters outperformed PEG specifically for CR, with NaP + Gastrografin achieving the highest CR (93.1%). Castor oil improved excretion (OR 0.17 of incomplete CCE transit, 95% CI 0.09-0.32), and routine prokinetics improved CR compared with no use (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.13-3.05). Low-fiber diets provided better cleansing than clear liquids (ACR 78.5% vs 70.0%). Current CCE bowel preparation regimens demonstrate variable performance relative to targets, with no single intervention demonstrating unequivocal superiority over others in pairwise comparisons. Evidence supports optimizing performance via low-volume PEG, NaP or Gastrografin-based boosters, routine prokinetics, and a low-fiber diet. A universal regimen is unlikely to suit all patients, highlighting the need for personalized protocols. Standardized cleansing scores and AI-assisted assessment are critical to improving reproducibility and cost-effectiveness. Optimizing bowel preparation for colon capsule endoscopy Colon capsule endoscopy is a non-invasive procedure that uses a swallowable pill-shaped camera to examine the large intestine to detect conditions like cancer or inflammation. While it offers a comfortable alternative to traditional colonoscopy, its success depends entirely on the colon being perfectly clean. Unlike standard endoscopes, the capsule cannot wash away debris or suction organic fluids. If the bowel is not completely clean, the examination may miss relevant lesion. Currently, there is no universally accepted standard for the best preparation protocol. To address this issue, we analyzed 14 major systematic reviews, encompassing data from 102 primary studies, to identify the most effective strategies for bowel preparation. The findings of this study highlight several key improvements for current protocols. First, a strict clear-liquid diet is not mandatory; allowing patients to eat low-fiber foods the day before the procedure actually improves cleansing results while enhancing patient comfort. Second, patients do not need to consume very high volumes of laxatives. Lower-volume solutions (under 4 liters) proved to be highly effective and are generally better tolerated by patients. Finally, keeping the capsule moving is critical, in order to avoid early battery depletion before the device is excreted. The routine use of specific medications that stimulate bowel movement (prokinetics), alongside targeted booster agents, is essential to ensure the capsule travels through the entire colon. In conclusion, the optimization and tailoring of laxative preparations significantly reduces the rate of incomplete examinations. This minimizes the need for repeat procedures, ultimately making colon capsule endoscopy a more reliable and cost-effective diagnostic tool.
Background/Objectives: Mammary serine protease inhibitor (maspin) was originally identified as a tumor suppressor gene, as loss of its expression in breast cancer cell lines promotes invasiveness and tumorigenicity. In contrast, normal pancreatic ductal epithelium does not express the maspin protein, and its expression frequency increases as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) progresses to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We have previously reported that cytoplasmic-only localization of maspin (cytMaspin) is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in patients with PDAC. However, the functional role of maspin in PDAC remains unclear. Methods: We investigated the subcellular localization and biological function of maspin in PDAC cell lines using Western blotting, immunofluorescence, RNA-seq, wound-healing assays, and invasion assays. Results: Endogenous maspin was detected in most PDAC cell lines, and RNA-seq was performed in S2-007 (panMaspin; nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of maspin) and S2-028 (cytMaspin), which were derived from the same parental cell line (SUIT-2). The invasive capability of S2-028 cells (cytMaspin) was higher than that of S2-007 cells (panMaspin), showing upregulation of the ErbB family and axon-guidance pathways. Furthermore, maspin overexpression in PANC-1 and S2-020 cells resulted in panMaspin and cytMaspin, respectively. PANC-1 cells overexpressing maspin showed decreased invasive capability via suppression of HER2 expression and Akt activation. Conclusions: Although maspin expression has generally been considered an unfavorable prognostic indicator in patients with PDAC, our findings suggest that its biological effects may differ depending on its subcellular localization. Specifically, nuclear localization is linked to less aggressive phenotypes, whereas cytoplasmic localization is associated with more malignant behavior.
To reconstruct the identity of an individual, sex assessment is an essential step in the estimation of the biological profile of a skeleton. For that purpose, forensic anthropologists apply both morphological and metric methods based in skeletal elements. In 2000, Wasterlain used a sample from the Identified Skeletal Collection of the University of Coimbra (19th -20th centuries) to develop a method to estimate sex on the basis of the limb bones metrics. In the present study, a sample of 202 individuals (92 males and 110 females) from the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection (University of Coimbra) was used to revise the Wasterlain method to better suit the contemporary Portuguese population. In all, 22 measurements were performed in the femur, tibia, calcaneus, and talus. Although the Wasterlain method has shown satisfactory results, new cut-off points and discriminant functions were developed to promote accurate sex classifications in the contemporary Portuguese population. Regarding the cut-off points, the femoral vertical head diameter, the bilateral width of the tibia, the length of the calcaneus, and the maximum length of the talus presented the best results for sex estimation (89.8%, 88.0%, 85.6%, 85.9%, respectively). Discriminant functions presented correct classification percentages varying between 78.7% and 91.5% for femur, 83.7% and 93.0% for tibia, 84.9% and 86.6% for calcaneus, and 86.6% and 88.5% for talus. In sum, the new cut-off points and discriminant functions presented an overall good performance, constituting reliable methods to be applied in forensic cases involving individuals of Portuguese origin.
Cutaneous focal mucinosis (CFM) is a rare dermatological condition characterized by localized mucin deposition in the dermis, presenting as solitary or multiple asymptomatic papules or nodules. Treatment options are limited, with spontaneous resolution occurring in some cases, while others persist or require intervention. Systemic therapies, such as isotretinoin, have variable efficacy, and invasive approaches may not suit all patients. We report a 19-year-old male case with persistent bilateral papular lesions in the beard area, diagnosed as CFM via biopsy. Due to the patient's reluctance to use systemic medication, superpulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy was employed, resulting in significant lesion resolution without adverse effects. At 6-month follow-up, the outcome remained favorable, suggesting laser therapy as a promising, noninvasive alternative for localized CFM. This study suggests that superpulsed CO2 laser therapy could be a valuable treatment for CFM, especially for patients who prefer nonsystemic or less invasive options. Further studies are warranted to confirm superpulsed CO2 laser therapy efficacy and long-term outcomes in managing this uncommon condition.