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Objective: In a recent sham-controlled 13-session prolonged continuous theta burst stimulation intervention protocol, recovery from upper limb fracture at both 1 and 3 months was better than anticipated in patients assigned to the sham intervention group. To determine whether potential placebo effect and close patient monitoring affected recovery, the current study aimed to compare clinical outcomes between sham-treated participants who also received standard care with similarly injured patients who only received standard care., Methods: Twenty participants with isolated upper limb fractures from the sham group were seen 13 times post-fracture (1 baseline session, 10 treatments, and 2 follow-ups [1 and 3 months]) over 3 months. They completed the self-reported Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Numerical Rating Scale for pain assessment at 1 and 3 months post-fracture. Two control groups were recruited: 43 participants at 1 month post-fracture and another 40 participants at 3 months post-fracture. These control groups completed the same questionnaires online, without any lab visits., Results: At 1 month, patients from the sham group reported significantly less functional impairments on the DASH (p = .010). At 3 months, significantly more patients from the control group reported functional limitations (72.5% versus sham's 40%, p = .015)., Conclusions: Although preliminary, these findings suggest clinically significant beneficial effects of the sham intervention over the standard care groups. This positive sham intervention effect may be attributed to a placebo response that includes the placebo effect associated with sham rTMS, but also the impact of various factors such as the close monitoring of the injury., (Copyright © 2025 Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine.)

Aims: FGFR-fused central nervous system (CNS) tumours are rare and are usually within the glioneuronal and neuronal tumours or the paediatric-type diffuse low-grade glioma spectrum. Among this spectrum, FGFR2 fusion has been documented in tumours classified by DNA-methylation profiling as polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumours of the young (PLNTY), a recently described tumour type. However, FGFR2 fusions have also been reported in glioneuronal tumours, highlighting the overlapping diagnostic criteria and challenges., Methods: We investigated the FGFR2 fusion landscape in a French national series of tumours sent to the RENOCLIP-LOC network. We comprehensively analysed histology, radiology and molecular data including DNA-methylation profiling for 16 FGFR2-fused glioneuronal tumours., Results: Most tumours were located in the temporal or parietal lobe with a median age at diagnosis of 7 years [1-44]. Epilepsy was the most frequent symptom. Five patients had tumour progression or recurrence with a median progression-free survival of 22.6 months. Histological phenotypes corresponding to PLNTY, GG, MVNT or unclassified tumours were recorded. Epigenetic profiling could not properly distinguish epigenetic clusters related to the GG and PLNTY methylation classes among FGFR2-fused glioneuronal tumours. However, a neuroradiological review identified strikingly distinct neuroradiological patterns., Conclusion: While delineating tumour types among the FGFR2-fused glioneuronal tumour spectrum, by histopathology or DNA-methylation profiling, remains challenging, neuroimaging data revealed two distinct patterns that could correlate to PLNTY and ganglioglioma. However, more series including extensive histo-radio-molecular data are needed to confirm this hypothesis., (© 2024 The Author(s). Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Neuropathological Society.)

Purpose: Supratentorial (ST) ependymoma subgroups are defined by two different fusions with different prognoses. Astroblastomas, MN1-altered, have ependymal-like histopathologic features and represent a differential diagnosis in children. We hypothesized that ZFTA-fused ependymoma and YAP1-fused ependymoma on the one hand, and astroblastoma, MN1-altered, on the other hand, show different MRI characteristics., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative imaging of 45 patients with ST ependymoma or astroblastoma between January 2000 and September 2020, blinded to histomolecular grouping. Several characteristics, such as location, tumor volume, calcifications, solid/cystic component, and signal enhancement or diffusion were evaluated. We compared imaging characteristics according to their molecular subtype (ZFTA-fused, YAP1-fused, and astroblastoma, MN1-altered)., Results: Thirty-nine patients were classified as having an ependymoma, 35 with a ZFTA fusion and four with a YAP1 fusion, and six as having an astroblastoma, MN1-altered. YAP1-fused ependymomas were more likely to involve at least 3 lobes than ZFTA-fused ependymomas. Astroblastomas were located in the frontal lobe in 100% of the tumors versus 49% of the ependymomas. Cerebral blood flow by arterial spin labeling was higher in astroblastomas than in ependymomas. There were no differences in the other characteristics between the molecular groups. All the tumors showed common features: intra-axial extra-ventricular tumors, very frequent contrast enhancement (39/43, 91%), a cystic/necrotic component (41/45, 91%), restricted diffusion (32/36, 89%), calcifications (15/18, 83%), and peri-tumoral edema (38/44, 86%)., Conclusion: The distinction between ST ependymoma subtypes and astroblastomas can be guided by several imaging features. These tumors share common imaging features that may help to differentiate ST ependymomas and astroblastomas from other pediatric ST tumors., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest V. Perrod, R. Levy, A. Tauziède-Espariat, C.-J. Roux, K. Beccaria, T. Blauwblomme, J. Grill, C. Dufour, L. Guerrini-Rousseau, S. Abbou, S. Bolle, A. Roux, J. Pallud, C. Provost, C. Oppenheim, P. Varlet, N. Boddaert and V. Dangouloff-Ros declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.)

The tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) poses a considerable threat to tomato production worldwide. Substantial experimental evidence supports the role of infected seeds as a contamination route, but the epidemiologic portrait of the virus has received less attention. This study reports the first survey of ToBRFV prevalence in commercial greenhouses. The aim was to examine the distribution of the virus in relation to greenhouse size and management practices in Québec (Canada). Plant samples collected at three production stages in 31 commercial greenhouses were subjected to ToBRFV detection and genome sequencing. The virus was detected in seven commercial greenhouses (11 positive samples out of 311 analyzed). Retrieved partial genome sequences formed a cluster with ToBRFV variants from Canada and Mexico, suggesting cross-border propagation through commercial trades. There was no link between greenhouse features and ToBRFV diagnosis, indicating that no specific profile is more susceptible to infection than others.

Due to their unique anatomy, paranasal sinuses have been used for comparative identification between post-mortem CT (PMCT) and ante-mortem CT (AMCT). However, data security issues arise when transferring raw AMCT images of a suspected identity. The aim of this study was to derive and validate an identification score based on CT slices extracted from successive CTs for the identification of subjects. For derivation procedure, we included patients who underwent two successive AMCTs at ≥ 1-year interval (n = 98), and 4 radiologists individually assessed similarity of prespecified CT slices (centered on ethmoid, frontal sinus and Left Semi-Circular Canal). Predictive values were calculated for all combinations of number of readers and slices, and the optimal compromise, termed IDScore, was selected. For validation, we included PMCTs performed between 2018 and 2022 with available comparative head AMCTs (n = 27). For each PMCT, 5 comparison procedures were performed: 1 concordant (with corresponding AMCT) and 4 discordant (with randomly selected AMCTs). Two radiologists evaluated similarity of ethmoid and frontal CT slices with a score ranging from -2 to + 2. IDScore was defined as the sum of these slice scores, averaged between the two readers. In the 135 comparison procedures, IDScore using predetermined thresholds (positive identification for IDScore >  + 2, negative identification for IDScore < -1) allowed a perfect discrimination between identical subjects (Sensitivity = 100%, Specificity = 100%). IDScore could be used for remote identification of a subject with no need to access to the complete raw AMCT images, hence helping to overcome ethical and regulatory issues to access AMCT of a suspected identity.Trial registration: F20220729161623 on Health Data Hub, registered on 29 July 2022., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: We investigated if theta burst stimulation could enhance recovery by reducing key symptoms when implemented acutely postfracture in participants with an isolated upper limb fracture., Methods/design: This was a pilot study with a randomized matched pair, sham-controlled, participant-blind design of a 10-day prolonged continuous theta burst stimulation protocol. Two main groups were included: I) participants with isolated upper limb fracture receiving active theta burst stimulation and II) patients with isolated upper limb fracture receiving SHAM/placebo. Another group (III) of healthy individuals was the reference group. Disability and pain intensity were collected through questionnaires (disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand as well as numerical rating scale (NRA)) at three time points (baseline; 72 hrs after intervention, 3 mos after injury). Group III completed the baseline assessment., Results: Seventy-nine participants were enrolled. Individuals in the ACTIVE and SHAM groups had similar baseline measures. For disability, the interaction between intervention and time approached significance (F = 2.33; P = 0.11), whereas it was significant for pain (F = 3.42; P = 0.04). At 3 mos after injury, the ACTIVE group reported reduced disability (F = 4.71; P = 0.04) and pain (F = 5.84; P = 0.02) at 3 mos after injury compared to the SHAM group, with clinical measures from ACTIVE group being like controls., Conclusions: In isolated upper limb fracture patients, a 10-day theta burst stimulation intervention implemented acutely posttrauma had beneficial effects on symptoms of functional recovery and pain at 3 mos after trauma., Competing Interests: Declarations: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare, and all the procedures followed the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval: approval by local ethics committee of Sacre Coeur Hospital (approval number: 2017-1328). Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is an increasingly utilized tool in forensic medicine for evaluating head gunshot injuries. Vault bevelling sign, when present, provides information regarding entry and exit wounds; when absent, identifying wound type on PMCT remains challenging. A cutaneous hyperdense ring, described in an animal study by Junno et al. (2022), may be indicative of contact shots. We hypothesized that it could also be observed in human gunshot injuries. Our study evaluates the reliability of the cutaneous hyperdense rim sign for identifying entry gunshot wounds in PMCT. After excluding complex and mucosal wounds, two operators retrospectively evaluated 64 gunshot wounds (30 entry and 34 exit wounds) in 34 head PMCT cases (2018-2022). Gold standard for wound type determination was the autopsy report. The hyperdense rim sign was defined as at least two-thirds of a continuous cutaneous hyperdense circle on a multiplanar reconstruction of cutaneous tissue tangent to the wound. The hyperdense rim sign demonstrated a specificity of 97% (95% CI: 85-100%) and a sensitivity of 63% (95% CI: 44-80%) for identifying entry wounds. Moreover, in 16 external examination reports where the presence of powder residues or bullet wipe at entry wound was explicitly mentioned, a positive association was observed between hyperdense rim sign and the presence of these elements (p = 0.018). These findings suggest that the hyperdense rim sign, when present, may be a valuable tool for entry wound determination in gunshot injuries, interpreted in conjunction with other CT and autopsy features., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

We assessed the impact of day-to-day sleep quality and psychological variables (catastrophizing, negative affect, and positive affect) to within-day pain fluctuations in 42 females with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) using electronic diaries. More specifically, we examined the contribution of these variables to the likelihood of experiencing pain exacerbations defined as 1) an increase of 20 points (or more) in pain intensity on a 0 to 100 visual analog scale from morning to evening, and/or 2) a transition from mild-to-moderate pain over the course of the day; and pain decreases defined as 3) a decrease of 20 points (or more) in pain intensity (visual analog scale) from morning to evening, and/or 4) a reduction from moderate-to-mild pain over the day. The results indicated significantly main effects of sleep on both pain exacerbation outcomes (both P's < .05), indicating that nights with better sleep quality were less likely to be followed by clinically meaningful pain exacerbations on the next day. The results also indicated that days characterized by higher levels of catastrophizing were associated with a greater likelihood of pain exacerbations on the same day (both P's < .05). Daily catastrophizing was the only variable significantly associated with within-day pain decrease indices (both P's < .05). None of the other variables were associated with these outcomes (all P's > .05). These results underscore the importance of addressing patients' sleep quality and psychological states in the management of painful TMD. PERSPECTIVE: These findings highlight the significance of sleep quality and pain catastrophizing in the experience of within-day pain fluctuations among individuals with TMD. Addressing these components through tailored interventions may help to alleviate the impact of pain fluctuations and enhance the overall well-being of TMD patients., (Copyright © 2024 United States Association for the Study of Pain, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Miridae), a true omnivorous insect, poses a significant threat to agriculture in the Neartic region. Understanding the feeding behavior of L. lineolaris is crucial for developing integrated pest management strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different diets on the fitness of L. lineolaris , with a focus on the diet source, feeding regime (phytophagy, zoophagy, and phytozoophagy), and number of diet items. The experimental design in the laboratory investigated the impacts of strawberry, canola and buckwheat flowers, as well as spider mites and aphids to explore relationships found in a conventional strawberry field. Results reveal that diet source, feeding regime, and the number of diet items influence L. lineolaris performance (i.e., survivorship rate, developmental time, and adult weight and length). Improvements in fitness are indicated by higher nymphal survival, shorter developmental time, and larger adults. Immature stages of L. lineolaris show improved fitness when provided with diets rich in canola compared to strawberry flowers and spider mites. Furthermore, the inclusion of multiple diet items in phytozoophagous regimes enhances insect performance. The findings emphasize the significance of understanding L. lineolaris' nutritional requirements and the biodiversity of target ecosystems for modeling energy flows and designing effective IPM strategies against this pest. This research contributes to the knowledge base for biological control programs targeting L. lineolaris in agricultural systems.

Abstract: The prognosis of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adults is determined primarily by damage to targeted organs such as the brain. Cognitive dysfunction in SCD is a common chronic neurological manifestation, but studies remain mostly descriptive in adults. The objective of this study was to better characterize the cognitive profile and the association between cognitive dysfunction and brain lesions. We included adult patients with SCD referred for a neurological assessment. An adapted battery of neuropsychological tests was used to assess cognitive deficits. Brain or arterial abnormalities were assessed using brain magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography and a cervical and transcranial Doppler ultrasound. The cognitive profile of 96 patients was characterized by deficits in processing speed (58%), short-term memory (34%), and working memory (24%). Brain infarcts were found in 56% of patients and intracranial vasculopathy in 49%. Twenty percent of patients had no brain abnormalities. Processing speed dysfunction was associated with territorial infarcts (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; P = .03) and education outside of France (OR, 4.7; P = .02). Short-term memory dysfunction was associated with territorial infarcts (OR, 3.4; P = .01) and a low educational level (OR, 8.2; P = .01). Working memory dysfunction was associated with a low educational level (OR, 4.3; P = .05) and vasculopathy (OR, 3.7; P = .03). Cognitive dysfunction appears to be a hallmark sign of SCD, particularly for adults with sickle cell-related stroke or suspected neurological morbidity. Assessment of such dysfunction could be used in longitudinal follow-up and clinical trials., (© 2024 by The American Society of Hematology. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), permitting only noncommercial, nonderivative use with attribution. All other rights reserved.)

Gallium-68-labeled FAPI-46 has recently been proposed as a novel positron emission tomography imaging probe to diagnose and monitor a wide variety of cancers. Promising results from several ongoing clinical trials have led to a soaring demand for this radiotracer. Typical [ 68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 labeling protocols do not cope with multiple generator elutions, leaving radiopharmacies unable to scale-up the production and meet the demand. Here, we propose a robust and efficient automated radiosynthesis of [ 68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 on the Trasis miniAllinOne synthesizer, featuring a prepurification step which allows multiple generator elutions and ensures compatibility with a wide range of gallium-68 generators. Our approach was to optimize the prepurification step by first testing five different cationic cartridge chemistries. Only the strong cationic exchange (SCX) cartridges tested had sufficient affinities for quantitative trapping of >99.9%, while the weak cationics did not exceed 50%. Packaging, rinsing, or flowing of the selected SCX cartridges was not noticeable, but improvements in fluidics managed to save time. Based on our previous development experience of [ 68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-46, radiolabeling optimization was also carried out at different temperatures during 10 min. At temperatures above 100°C, radiochemical yield (RCY) > 80% was achieved without significantly increasing the chemical impurities (<5.5 μg mL -1 ). The optimized sequence was reproducibly conducted with three different brands of widely used generators (RCY >88%). A comparison with radiosyntheses carried out without prepurification steps was also conclusive in terms of RCY, radiochemical yield, and chemical purity. Finally, high-activity tests using elutions from three generators were also successful for these parameters. [ 68 Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 was consistently obtained in good radiochemical yields (>89%, n = 3 ), and the final product quality was compliant with internal specifications based on European Pharmacopoeia. This process is suitable for GMP production and allows scaling-up of routine productions, higher throughput, and, ultimately, better patient care., Competing Interests: Authors SD, CV, and TG were employed by Trasis. FV was employed by SOFIE iTheranostics. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Paty, Degueldre, Provost, Schmitt, Trump, Fouque, Vriamont, Valla, Gendron and Madar.)

Traumatic injuries to the spinal cord or the brain have serious medical consequences and lead to long-term disability. The epidemiology, medical complications, and prognosis of isolated spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been well described. However, there are limited data on patients suffering from concurrent SCI and TBI, even if a large proportion of SCI patients have concomitant TBI. The complications associated with this "dual-diagnosis" such as cognitive or behavioral dysfunction are well known in the rehabilitation setting, but evidence-based and standardized approaches for diagnosis and treatment are lacking. Our goal was to develop and characterize a pre-clinical animal model of concurrent SCI and TBI to help identifying "dual-diagnosis" tools. Female rats received a unilateral contusive SCI at the thoracic level alone (SCI group) or combined with a TBI centered on the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SCI-TBI group). We first validated that the SCI extent was comparable between SCI-TBI and SCI groups, and that hindlimb function was impaired. We characterized various neurological outcomes, including locomotion, sleep architecture, brain activity during sleep, depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, and working memory. We report that SCI-TBI and SCI groups show similar impairments in global locomotor function. While wake/sleep amount and distribution and anxiety- and depression-like symptoms were not affected in SCI-TBI and SCI groups in comparison to the control group (laminectomy and craniotomy only), working memory was impaired only in SCI-TBI rats. This pre-clinical model of concomitant SCI and TBI, including more severe variations of it, shows a translational value for the identification of biomarkers to refine the "dual-diagnosis" of neurotrauma in humans.

Objective: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are characterised by chronic pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and masticatory muscles. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a potential non-invasive treatment for chronic pain; however, its effectiveness in individuals with TMD has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate and sustained (over seven consecutive days) effects of a single session of active rTMS compared to sham stimulation on pain intensity and pain unpleasantness in individuals with TMD., Methods: A randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial enrolled 41 female participants with chronic TMD. Pain intensity and pain unpleasantness were assessed immediately pre- and post-intervention, as well as twice daily for 21 days using electronic diaries. Secondary outcomes included pain interference, sleep quality, positive and negative affect and pain catastrophizing. Adverse effects were monitored. Repeated measures ANOVA and multilevel modelling regression analyses were employed for data analysis., Result: Active rTMS demonstrated a significant immediate mild reduction in pain intensity and pain unpleasantness compared to sham stimulation. However, these effects were not sustained over the 7-day post-intervention period. No significant differences were observed between interventions for pain interference, sleep quality and negative affect. A minority of participants reported minor and transient side effects, including headaches and fatigue., Conclusion: A single session of active rTMS was safe and led to immediate mild analgesic effects in individuals with TMD compared to sham stimulation. However, no significant differences were observed between interventions over the 7-day post-intervention period. Based on this study, rTMS stimulation appears to be a promising safe approach to be tested in TMD patients with longer stimulation protocols., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A novel methylation class, "neuroepithelial tumor, with PLAGL1 fusion" (NET-PLAGL1), has recently been described, based on epigenetic features, as a supratentorial pediatric brain tumor with recurrent histopathological features suggesting an ependymal differentiation. Because of the recent identification of this neoplastic entity, few histopathological, radiological and clinical data are available. Herein, we present a detailed series of nine cases of PLAGL1-fused supratentorial tumors, reclassified from a series of supratentorial ependymomas, non-ZFTA/non-YAP1 fusion-positive and subependymomas of the young. This study included extensive clinical, radiological, histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, genetic and epigenetic (DNA methylation profiling) data for characterization. An important aim of this work was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a novel fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) targeting the PLAGL1 gene. Using histopathology, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy, we confirmed the ependymal differentiation of this new neoplastic entity. Indeed, the cases histopathologically presented as "mixed subependymomas-ependymomas" with well-circumscribed tumors exhibiting a diffuse immunoreactivity for GFAP, without expression of Olig2 or SOX10. Ultrastructurally, they also harbored features reminiscent of ependymal differentiation, such as cilia. Different gene partners were fused with PLAGL1: FOXO1, EWSR1 and for the first time MAML2. The PLAGL1 FISH presented a 100% sensitivity and specificity according to RNA sequencing and DNA methylation profiling results. This cohort of supratentorial PLAGL1-fused tumors highlights: 1/ the ependymal cell origin of this new neoplastic entity; 2/ benefit of looking for a PLAGL1 fusion in supratentorial cases of non-ZFTA/non-YAP1 ependymomas; and 3/ the usefulness of PLAGL1 FISH., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Posterior fossa ependymoma group A (EPN&#95;PFA) and group B (EPN&#95;PFB) can be distinguished by their DNA methylation and give rise to different prognoses. We compared the MRI characteristics of EPN&#95;PFA and EPN&#95;PFB at presentation., Methods: Preoperative imaging of 68 patients with posterior fossa ependymoma from two centers was reviewed by three independent readers, blinded for histomolecular grouping. Location, tumor extension, tumor volume, hydrocephalus, calcifications, tissue component, enhancement or diffusion signal, and histopathological data (cellular density, calcifications, necrosis, mitoses, vascularization, and microvascular proliferation) were compared between the groups. Categorical data were compared between groups using Fisher's exact tests, and quantitative data using Mann-Whitney tests. We performed a Benjamini-Hochberg correction of the p values to account for multiple tests., Results: Fifty-six patients were categorized as EPN&#95;PFA and 12 as EPN&#95;PFB, with median ages of 2 and 20 years, respectively (p = 0.0008). The median EPN&#95;PFA tumoral volume was larger (57 vs 29 cm 3 , p = 0.003), with more pronounced hydrocephalus (p = 0.002). EPN&#95;PFA showed an exclusive central position within the 4th ventricle in 61% of patients vs 92% for EPN&#95;PFB (p = 0.01). Intratumor calcifications were found in 93% of EPN&#95;PFA vs 40% of EPN&#95;PFB (p = 0.001). Invasion of the posterior fossa foramina was mostly found for EPN&#95;PFA, particularly the foramina of Luschka (p = 0.0008). EPN&#95;PFA showed whole and homogeneous tumor enhancement in 5% vs 75% of EPN&#95;PFB (p = 0.0008). All mainly cystic tumors were EPN&#95;PFB (p = 0.002). The minimal and maximal relative ADC was slightly lower in EPN&#95;PFA (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively)., Conclusion: Morphological characteristics from imaging differ between posterior fossa ependymoma subtypes and may help to distinguish them preoperatively., Clinical Relevance Statement: This study provides a tool to differentiate between group A and group B ependymomas, which will ultimately allow the therapeutic strategy to be adapted in the early stages of patient management., Key Points: • Posterior fossa ependymoma subtypes often have different imaging characteristics. • Posterior fossa ependymomas group A are commonly median or lateral tissular calcified masses, with incomplete enhancement, affecting young children and responsible for pronounced hydrocephalus and invasion of the posterior fossa foramina. • Posterior fossa ependymomas group B are commonly median non-calcified masses of adolescents and adults, predominantly cystic, and minimally invasive, with total and homogeneous enhancement., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Society of Radiology.)

Anthracnose caused by Elsinöe ampelina is an economically important disease that affects certain hardy and semihardy grapevine cultivars. The control of this disease requires repeated application of fungicides, which has financial and environmental consequences. In this study, leaf removal in the cluster area was studied with a view to facilitating integrated anthracnose management. First, the effect of leaf removal timing (BBCH stage 53 or 71) and intensity (one or both sides of rows) on the progression of anthracnose and on the microclimate was studied in plots planted with Vidal blanc ( Vitis vinifera ) at two sites in both 2020 and 2021. Overall, at both sites and in both years, anthracnose on leaves was more severe in plots without cluster zone leaf removal. Regardless of the timing of leaf removal, anthracnose severity on leaves and incidence of infected berries at harvest were significantly lower in plots where leaves had been removed on both sides of the rows compared with plots where leaves were removed on one side only. Second, anthracnose management programs with leaf removal, with or without disease risk estimation, were evaluated. All anthracnose management programs including leaf removal in the cluster zone reduced anthracnose development compared with the standard program without leaf removal. Overall mean leaf anthracnose severity, severity at harvest, and anthracnose incidence on clusters at harvest were lower in plots with leaf removal than in the standard program, but the differences between the two treatments were not significant ( P > 0.05). More fungicide applications were made in plots managed using the standard programs, specifically 13 applications, compared with plots managed based on assessing the weather-related risk of anthracnose, with 9 and 10 applications made at sites 1 and 2 for the risk-based program, respectively, and 5 and 7 applications made at sites 1 and 2, respectively, when microclimate within the cluster zone was considered. The results of this study clearly show the important role that leaf removal can play in managing grape anthracnose., Competing Interests: The author(s) declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are at risk of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges related to their diagnosis and treatment. Routine follow-up care as adults is therefore essential to their long-term health and quality of life. In order to successfully navigate to adult healthcare, it is recommended that youth develop transition readiness skills. Existing transition readiness interventions often focus on disease management. However, PBTS are also at risk of social competence and cognitive functioning challenges. In this paper, we describe the protocol of this pilot study and the methodology that will be used for the evaluation of the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy testing of the first targeted transition intervention workshops specifically designed to meet the needs of PBTS and their caregivers., Methods: This study will use a mixed method to evaluate three 1 ½-h workshops targeted for dyads (N = 40) of PBTS (14 years or older) and their parents. Dyads will be recruited via a community pediatric cancer organization and the long-term follow-up clinic of a large pediatric hospital. Participants will complete an online survey which includes the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) before and after the workshops. Each workshop will cover a specific topic related to PBTS transition readiness: disease management, social competence, and cognitive functioning. Workshops will follow the same structure: topic presentation, discussion by a post-transfer survivor or parent, teaching two strategies, and workshop evaluation. Workshops will be co-led by healthcare specialists and patient partners. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed via recruitment, attendance, retention, and Likert scales, and they will be analyzed by describing and comparing rates. Satisfaction will be measured using satisfaction surveys and audio-recorded focus groups. Qualitative data will be described through thematic content analysis. In order to test the preliminary efficacy of this study, we will compare transition readiness skills pre- and post-workshops using paired samples T test and ANCOVA to examine the impact of workshop on TRAQ skills., Discussion: Results of the study will inform refinement and future broader implementation of targeted transition readiness workshops for the specific needs of pediatric brain tumor survivors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The effects of porcine circovirus type 2b (PCV2b) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) co-infection in epithelial cells of the swine respiratory tract is unknown. In the present study, the newborn pig trachea cell line NPTr-CD163, which is permissive to both viruses, was persistently infected with PCV2b and then with PRRSV. Viral replication, cell viability, cytokines' mRNA expression, and modulation of cellular genes expression were evaluated in infected cells. In NPTr-CD163 co-infection model, PCV2b replication was enhanced while PRRSV replication was suppressed. Cell viability was significantly decreased during PCV2b single infection and co-infection compared to mock-infected and PRRSV single infected cells. However, no difference was observed in cell viability between PCV2b and PCV2b/PRRSV infected cells. The IL6, IL8 and IL10 mRNA expression was significantly higher in co-infected cells compared to PCV2b and PRRSV single infected cells. Moreover, the IFN-α/β expression was significantly reduced in co-infected cells compared to PCV2b infected cells whereas it remained higher compared to PRRSV infected cells. The differential gene expression analysis revealed that the mRNA expression level of the cellular gene DUSP1 was significantly higher in all PRRSV infection models compared to PCV2b single infected cells. Knockdown of DUSP1 expression in co-infected cells significantly reduced PCV2b replication, suggesting a role for DUSP1 in PCV2b/PRRSV pathogenesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Accurate and real-time monitoring of grapevine freezing tolerance is crucial for the sustainability of the grape industry in cool climate viticultural regions. However, on-site data are limited due to the complexity of measurement. Current prediction models underperform under diverse climate conditions, which limits the large-scale deployment of these methods. We combined grapevine freezing tolerance data from multiple regions in North America and generated a predictive model based on hourly temperature-derived features and cultivar features using AutoGluon, an automated machine learning engine. Feature importance was quantified by AutoGluon and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) value. The final model was evaluated and compared with previous models for its performance under different climate conditions. The final model achieved an overall 1.36°C root-mean-square error during model testing and outperformed two previous models using three test cultivars at all testing regions. Two feature importance quantification methods identified five shared essential features. Detailed analysis of the features indicates that the model has adequately extracted some biological mechanisms during training. The final model, named NYUS.2, was deployed along with two previous models as an R shiny-based application in the 2022-23 dormancy season, enabling large-scale and real-time simulation of grapevine freezing tolerance in North America for the first time., Competing Interests: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nanjing Agricultural University.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate cortical excitability differences in the primary motor cortex (M1) hand representation between individuals with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and healthy controls. We assessed resting motor thresholds, motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), intracortical inhibition, and intracortical facilitation and explored potential associations with clinical and psychosocial characteristics in the TMD group., Materials and Methods: We recruited 36 female participants with TMD and 17 pain-free controls. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess M1 cortical excitability. Correlations between clinical and psychosocial factors and cortical excitability measures were also evaluated., Results: Patients with TMD showed significantly higher intracortical facilitation at 12 ms (z = 1.98, p = 0.048) and 15 ms (z = 2.65, p = 0.008) when compared to controls. Correlations revealed associations between intracortical facilitation and pain interference, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and pain catastrophizing in the TMD group., Conclusions: Females with TMD exhibit heightened motor cortex intracortical facilitation in the hand representation, potentially indicating altered cortical excitability beyond the motor face area. This suggests a role for cortical excitability in TMD pathophysiology, influenced by psychosocial factors., Clinical Relevance: Understanding cortical excitability in TMD may inform targeted interventions. Psychosocial variables may play a role in cortical excitability, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of TMD-related pain. Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings, with potential implications for the management of TMD and related pain conditions., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The use of relaxometry and Diffusion-Tensor Imaging sequences for brain tumor assessment is limited by their long acquisition time. We aim to test the effect of a denoising algorithm based on a Deep Learning Reconstruction (DLR) technique on quantitative MRI parameters while reducing scan time. In 22 consecutive patients with brain tumors, DLR applied to fast and noisy MR sequences preserves the mean values of quantitative parameters (Fractional anisotropy, mean Diffusivity, T1 and T2-relaxation time) and produces maps with higher structural similarity compared to long duration sequences. This could promote wider use of these biomarkers in clinical setting., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial or personal relationships that could be viewed as influencing the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)