Background Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute an important part of the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer (BC), and they play an essential role in modulating tumor growth and invasion. However, the role of TAMs in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the function of TAM subtypes and investigate their role in the response to NAC in BC. Methods Presence of TAMs was examined immunohistochemically (IHC) in pre- and post- NAC treatment tumor tissue in a cohort of 138 BC patients. IHC staining with monoclonal antibodies for CD68 and CD163 were performed. Positivity was defined as staining > 1% TAMs in stroma and tumor cell nests. Response to NAC was evaluated according to tumor size change and Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) index. Results CD68+ and CD163+ TAMs decreased significantly in both the stroma and tumor nests (TN) after NAC. The median CD68+ TAMs in the stroma decreased significantly from 5% to 1% (p < 0.005), while CD163+ TAMs showed a marked reduction from 20% to 5% (p < 0.001). Post-NAC, the persistence of CD68+ and CD163+ TAMs in the stroma was strongly correlated with larger residual tumor size (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). Changes in CD163+ TAM levels in the stroma were significantly associated with RCB classes (p < 0.005). Pre-NAC, CD163+ TAMs in the stroma and TN showed a significant association with TILs; however, no correlations with TILs were observed post-NAC. Conclusion This study highlights the critical role of TAMs dynamics in shaping NAC response in BC. Notably, CD163+ TAMs may emerge as pivotal players in mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance and response, underscoring their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in breast cancer treatment.

It has been established that athletes must maintain an optimal level of anthropometric characteristics in accordance with the demands of their specific sport. Recent studies have examined the anthropometric characteristics and body composition of footballers compared to athletes from other sports; however, no study has included karate athletes. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in anthropometric characteristics and body composition between professional footballers and karatekas. This study included 34 professional male athletes from Montenegro, categorized into two groups: football players (n=19, 20.74±4.32 years) and karate athletes (n=15, 20.47±4.91 years). The anthropometric characteristics and body composition of football players were assessed by a battery of 11 variables: body height (BH), body mass (BM), triceps skinfold (TS), biceps skinfold (BS), subscapular skinfold (SS), abdominal skinfold (AS), front thigh skinfold (FS), medial calf skinfold (MS), body mass index (BMI), fat percentage (FP), and muscle mass (MM). Based on an independent t-test it was determined that there are no significant differences between football players and karate athletes in any anthropometric characteristics and body composition parameters. This finding suggests that, despite the differing demands of these sports, both are performed at a professional level, which requires an optimal balance of anthropometric traits—characterized by a lower body fat percentage and greater muscle mass—essential for both disciplines. Further research is needed, particularly through segmental body composition analysis, to provide more detailed insights into the physique of football players and karate athletes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reshaped work dynamics, pushing remote work to the forefront. This study explores the impact of transformational leadership on employee performance in remote working environments. Conducted among 231 respondents from various sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the research investigates how leadership styles affect employee performance in a post-pandemic period. The findings highlight that transformational leadership significantly enhances employee performance across all dimensions. Remote working benefits, however, show negligible impact on performance, while remote working disadvantages and job autonomy have medium to large effects. These results underline the importance of effective leadership and autonomy in optimizing employee performance in remote work settings. These insights highlight the need for organizations to adapt their leadership strategies to the evolving digital work environment, ensuring that remote work remains a viable and productive option for the future. Research provides valuable guidance for businesses aiming to navigate the new normal successfully, emphasizing the crucial role of transformational leadership in the digital age.

OBJECTIVE The endonasal transsphenoidal approach (ETA) developed over the years has become the standard of care for sellar and parasellar lesions. However, because it necessitates the removal of the skull base bone, it is often accompanied by CSF leakage. The authors aimed to provide technical nuances and analyze the results of their routine fat grafting technique after ETA. METHODS A consecutive patient cohort (2004-2024) of 168 patients who underwent ETA for sellar and parasellar lesions and the modified fat grafting technique for skull base repair were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS Overall, combined ETA and transcranial approach (TCA) was performed in 7 (4.2%) patients, and 4 (2.4%) patients had prior transsphenoidal surgery. The size of the lesion was < 10 mm in 24 (14.3%) patients, 10-30 mm in 93 (55.4%), and > 30 mm in 51 (30.4%). Histopathological diagnoses were as follows: 154 (91.7%) pituitary adenomas, of which 45 (26.8%) were secreting; 8 (4.8%) Rathke's cleft cysts; 2 (1.2%) inflammatory/autoimmune lesions; 2 (1.2%) craniopharyngiomas; 1 (0.6%) renal cell carcinoma metastasis; and 1 (0.6%) chordoma. Gross-total resection was achieved in 127 (75.6%) patients, near-total resection in 22 (13.1%), and subtotal resection/partial resection/biopsy in 19 (11.3%). Overall, 122 (72.6%) procedures had intraoperative CSF leakage. Postoperative CSF leakage was observed in 1 (0.6%) patient treated with a revision operation and regrafting with a slightly larger graft and lumbar drainage. CONCLUSIONS Even slight modifications in contemporary surgical techniques and the addition of an innovative approach may improve the treatment of sellar and parasellar lesions via ETA and reduce the risk of CSF leakage. The authors have developed and described a modified fat grafting technique with gradual crafting and preprocessing of the abdominal fat tissue for skull base repair, and they have demonstrated its effectiveness in significantly reducing the CSF leak rate. This technique enables adequate reconstruction of skull base defects with low donor-site complication rates and obviates the need for external lumbar drainage.

The language we speak shapes our reality. In this paper, we shed light on the fact that by inventing and normalizing phrases such as the "U.K. variant", "Chinese virus", or the "Spanish flu", we are not only endorsing discriminative narratives that could deepen divisions within society, harming people's mental health, but also distracting the public's attention from the most important issue amid the pandemic-how to stall or stem COVID-19 in a timely matter. Furthermore, we also make a call to actions for media professionals, health experts, and government officials to stop creating and popularizing discriminative COVID-19 terms, so that we can reduce the divisions between societies and better focus on controlling the pandemic.

Summary Existing research has proven difficult to understand the interplay between upstream signaling events during NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, events downstream of inflammasome complex formation such as cytokine release and pyroptosis can exhibit variation, further complicating matters. Cell Painting has emerged as a prominent tool for unbiased evaluation of the effect of perturbations on cell morphological phenotypes. Using this technique, phenotypic fingerprints can be generated that reveal connections between phenotypes and possible modes of action. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study that utilized Cell Painting on human THP-1 macrophages to generate phenotypic fingerprints in response to different endogenous and exogenous NLRP3 inflammasome triggers and to identify phenotypic features specific to NLRP3 inflammasome complex formation. Our results demonstrated that not only can Cell Painting generate morphological fingerprints that are NLRP3 trigger-specific but it can also identify cellular fingerprints associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Background/Objectives: Post-infectious syndromes, including Post-COVID syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and late-stage Lyme disease, are associated with overlapping clinical features and autonomic dysfunction. Despite shared symptoms such as fatigue and orthostatic intolerance, the underlying pathophysiology and specific patterns of autonomic dysfunction may differ. This study aimed to evaluate and compare autonomic nervous system function in these syndromes using multiple diagnostic modalities to identify unique characteristics and improve differentiation between these conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 758 patients, which were divided into four groups: Post-COVID syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome following Post-COVID syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome unrelated to COVID-19, and late-stage Lyme disease. Autonomic nervous system function was assessed using cardiovascular reflex tests, the Head-Up Tilt Test, beat-to-beat analysis, five-minute electrocardiogram recordings, 24 h Holter electrocardiogram monitoring, and 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Statistical analyses compared parameters across the groups, focusing on patterns of sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. Results: The patients with Lyme disease showed distinct autonomic patterns, including a higher prevalence of orthostatic hypotension (53.4%) and changes in heart rate variability during the Head-Up Tilt Test suggestive of adrenergic failure. Compared to the other groups, patients with Lyme disease exhibited reduced baroreceptor sensitivity and diminished changes in frequency domain heart rate variability parameters during orthostatic stress. Parasympathetic dysfunction was less prevalent in the Lyme disease group, while the Post-COVID syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome groups showed more pronounced autonomic imbalances. Conclusions: The patients with Post-COVID syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and late-stage Lyme disease exhibited varying degrees and types of autonomic dysfunction. Late-stage Lyme disease is characterized by adrenergic failure and distinct hemodynamic responses, differentiating it from other syndromes. The functional assessment of autonomic nervous system function could aid in understanding and managing these conditions, offering insights for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Continuous exploration of innovative and sustainable solutions within green chemistry is imperative to tackle challenges inherent in traditional production processes. This study examined three novel methods for obtaining polyphenolic extracts from dill seeds: nonthermal high voltage electric discharge (HVED), subcritical water extraction (SWE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). SWE was conducted at temperatures ranging from 100 to 200°C under 30 bar pressure, while MAE utilized a hydroethanolic solvent at temperatures from 40 to 120°C. HVED extraction was performed at varying frequencies (40-100 Hz) and durations (5-15 min) in water. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extracts was quantified, and antioxidant activity was evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging capacity varied across techniques, with MAE at 40°C yielding the highest values. Increasing MAE temperature caused a steep decline in total phenol and flavonoid contents and a rise in DPPH IC50 values. Conversely, SWE significantly increased phenolic recovery at temperatures between 150-200°C. HVED extraction revealed frequency as the most critical parameter for phenolic recovery. Catechin (224.88 µg/mL), epicatechin (120.62 µg/mL), epigallocatechin (107.56 µg/mL), and procyanidin B1 (116.36 µg/mL) emerged as the primary phenolics. SWE demonstrated superior suitability for individual phenolic recovery compared with the other two techniques. Multivariate data analysis reveals relationships between extraction parameters and polyphenol recovery, underscoring the potential for eco-friendly and efficient extraction processes. This study highlights the transition toward sustainable extraction methods in modern industrial processing. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides insights into innovative extraction techniques for obtaining polyphenols from dill seeds, which could be applied in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The findings suggest that these eco-friendly methods can improve the efficiency of extracting antioxidants, offering manufacturers a greener and more effective approach to producing health-promoting ingredients.

Attosecond spectroscopy of materials has provided invaluable insight into light-driven coherent electron dynamics. However, attosecond spectroscopies have so far been focused on weakly-correlated materials. As a result, the behavior of strongly-correlated systems is largely unknown at sub- to few-femtosecond timescales, even though it is typically the realm at which electron-electron interactions operate. Here we conduct attosecond-resolved experiments on the correlated insulator nickel oxide, and compare its response to a common band insulator, revealing fundamentally different behaviors. The results, together with state-of-the art time-dependent $\textit{ab initio}$ calculations, show that the correlated system response is governed by a laser-driven quench of electron correlations. The evolution of the on-site electronic interaction is measured here at its natural timescale, marking the first direct measurement of Hubbard $U$ renormalization in NiO. It is found to take place within a few femtoseconds, after which structural changes slowly start to take place. The resulting picture sheds light on the entire light-induced response of a strongly-correlated system, from attosecond to long-lived effects.

Attosecond spectroscopy of materials has provided invaluable insight into light-driven coherent electron dynamics. However, attosecond spectroscopies have so far been focused on weakly-correlated materials. As a result, the behavior of strongly-correlated systems is largely unknown at sub- to few-femtosecond timescales, even though it is typically the realm at which electron-electron interactions operate. Here we conduct attosecond-resolved experiments on the correlated insulator nickel oxide, and compare its response to a common band insulator, revealing fundamentally different behaviors. The results, together with state-of-the art time-dependent $\textit{ab initio}$ calculations, show that the correlated system response is governed by a laser-driven quench of electron correlations. The evolution of the on-site electronic interaction is measured here at its natural timescale, marking the first direct measurement of Hubbard $U$ renormalization in NiO. It is found to take place within a few femtoseconds, after which structural changes slowly start to take place. The resulting picture sheds light on the entire light-induced response of a strongly-correlated system, from attosecond to long-lived effects.