Research articles

Stähli, Becchetti, Korta Martiartu et al. present a first-in-human evaluation of computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode to quantify the speed of sound in the liver. Estimated values show an excellent discriminative ability in distinguishing normal versus steatotic livers, with potential value in the non-invasive diagnosis of liver steatosis.

Jarvi and Balu-Iyer evaluate an immunogenicity screening toolbox in which in vitro assays capture the migratory potential of dendritic cells. Expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 on dendritic cells and their migration toward chemokines CCL21 and CXCL12 in the presence of therapeutic protein correlates with their clinical immunogenicity.

Seirin-Lee et al. develop a mathematical model to analyze the shapes of skin eruptions and link these morphological features to in vivo pathological dynamics of chronic urticaria. The proposed multidisciplinary method combining mathematical modelling, in vitro experiments, and clinical data, could constitute an innovative approach to the clinical treatment of an intractable disease.

Wang et al. use Mendelian randomization to study the causal interaction between physical activity, education, and BMI, finding that more physical activity leads to a lower BMI, while sedentary behavior is a consequence of higher BMI. More years of schooling encourages higher physical activity and lower BMI, emphasizing its positive impact on health.

Yoshioka, Taniguchi, Homma et al. study the effect of AAV-delivered Cas9 and specific guide RNAs to correct the PMP22 gene duplication that causes Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A. They measured the effect of Cas9 editing in iPSC cells on PMP22 expression and demonstrated how editing reduces cell death and myelination defects in edited iPSC-derived Schwann cells.

Avery et al. utilize data from the UK Biobank in a multivariable Mendelian randomization study to evaluate the effects of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) on human disease. Their findings suggest observational studies of BCAA phenotypic effects are prone to substantial error, potentially misleading efforts to develop novel therapeutics.

Park et al. assess the therapeutic efficacy of mitochondrial transplantation with or without O-GlcNAc modification of isolated mitochondria. O-GlcNAcylation can prevent glycation while improving both the functional properties of mitochondria and the neuroprotective efficacy of transplantation in a mouse model of focal cerebral ischemia.

Cai et al. develop and evaluate mpox A29 surface envelop protein-based enzyme immunoassay to analyze seroprevalence and B cell responses after natural mpox viral infection or vaccination. The assay can readily detect mpox A29-specific B cells and antibody in the serum of mpox patients and MVA-BN vaccine recipients.

Caroppo, Calabrese et al. monitor the mental health of 100 asylum-seekers during a 14-day COVID19 related quarantine in reception facilities in Rome, Italy. Asylum-seekers are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder than the general population, but a supportive environment during quarantine enhances their psychological well-being.

Bruneau et al. simulate high-fidelity fluid-structure interactions to model intracranial sounds. Spectrograms of the simulated vibrations are consistent with previously-reported microphone and Doppler ultrasound recordings.

Nilsson et al. distinguish between lower- and higher-grade prostate cancers using imaging and whole-slide histopathology in a co-registered dataset. They find that clinically significant distinctions of prostate cancer grades are reflected in partially discriminative cut-off values derived from multiparametric MRI and positron emission tomography.

Klenk, Erber et al. quantitatively detect blood cell aggregates in COVID-19 patients using label-free digital holographic microscopy. They find that COVID-19 severity associates with the amount of platelet and platelet leukocyte aggregates in the peripheral blood.

Langezaal, van den Broek, et al. develop a decision support system for epidemiological job coding. This system is used for occupational classification and exposure assessment of job descriptions and performs better than both expert coders and alternative currently available tools.

Gligorić, Kamath, Weiss et al. evaluate revealed versus potential travel times to healthcare facilities in over 100 countries using anonymized smartphone location history data. The authors study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel times and correlate travel times with key population health indicators.

Young et al. report qualitative findings exploring patient and healthcare provider perspectives to inform a nurse-led virtual prostate cancer survivorship clinic. While caveats regarding accessibility, clinical fit and implementation are raised, a virtual clinic designed in consideration of these factors is deemed to be acceptable and feasible.

Hendrix et al. develop and evaluate an artificial intelligence (AI) system for the detection of benign pulmonary nodules, small lung cancers, and pulmonary metastases in clinically indicated CT scans. A comparison with thoracic radiologists shows that AI can accurately detect these lesions and potentially aid radiologists in clinical practice.

Cheung, Zhang et al. examine the association between secondhand smoke exposure and changes in the retinal vasculature among children aged 6 to 8, in a population-based cohort study. Children exposed to secondhand smoke have wider retinal arteriolar and venular calibers compared to those in smoke-free homes.

Yuda et al. report the development and evaluation of a novel selective MCL-1 inhibitor, ABBV-467. The compound is efficacious in preclinical models but increases in cardiac troponin are seen in a first-in-human study, suggesting potential cardiac toxicity of the drug.

Yamauchi et al. investigate the effects of treatment with the kinase inhibitor lenvatinib on immune parameters via multi-omics analysis of liver cancer and peripheral blood samples. Immune signatures associated with T-cell functions and interferon response are enriched during early treatment, while immunoinhibitory signatures are downregulated.

Krockow et al present data from two surveys exploring public perception of antimicrobial resistance-related terminology from a linguistic perspective. They highlight the failure of current terminology to support public awareness and understanding of the global antimicrobial resistance challenge.