The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Programme plays an important role in cancer prevention by identifying potential carcinogenic hazards. However, the terminology used in IARC’s classifications and Monographs can confuse the public, health professionals, and policymakers. Terms like “carcinogenic to humans” imply causation, although classifications only indicate increased risk under certain conditions. For example, the lifetime incidence of mesothelioma among firefighters is approximately 14 in 10,000, compared to 7 in 10,000 in the general population. Despite doubling the risk, occupational exposure as a firefighter does not cause this type of cancer in 9,986 out of 10,000 firefighters. However, the IARC concludes that “occupational exposure as a firefighter causes mesothelioma” (IARC Working Group on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. Occupational Exposure as a Firefighter. Lyon: IARC; 2023. pp. 1–730. PMID: 37963216). In addition, the lack of essential information about dosage and context in the IARC carcinogen lists can lead to agents with health benefits under certain conditions (e.g., solar radiation, red meat consumption, approved drugs) being perceived as universally harmful, discouraging beneficial exposures, behaviors, or treatments. Here, I propose renaming the groups of agents classified by the IARC and adding basic labels to specific agents to improve the accuracy and interpretability of the IARC classification lists. These adjustments do not interfere with the IARC’s objective of identifying potential hazards, are easy to implement, and enhance accuracy and clarity, providing stronger support to guide cancer prevention strategies.

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Abstract Background Chronic periodontitis is a condition impacting approximately 50% of the world’s population. As chronic periodontitis progresses, the bacteria in the oral cavity change resulting in new microbial interactions which in turn influence metabolite production. Chronic periodontitis manifests with inflammation of the periodontal tissues, which is progressively developed due to bacterial infection and prolonged bacterial interaction with the host immune response. The bi-directional relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases has been reported in many previous studies. Traditional diagnostic methods for chronic periodontitis and systemic diseases such as chronic kidney diseases (CKD) have limitations due to their invasiveness, requiring practised individuals for sample collection, frequent blood collection, and long waiting times for the results. More rapid methods are required to detect such systemic diseases, however, the metabolic profiles of the oral cavity first need to be determined. Aim of review In this review, we explored metabolomics studies that have investigated salivary metabolic profiles associated with chronic periodontitis and systemic illnesses including CKD, oral cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinsons’s disease, and diabetes to highlight the most recent methodologies that have been applied in this field. Key scientific concepts of the review Of the rapid, high throughput techniques for metabolite profiling, Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was the most applied technique, followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy was the most used vibrational spectroscopic technique for comparison of the saliva from periodontitis patients to healthy individuals, whilst Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FT-IR) was not utilised as much in this field. A recommendation for cultivating periodontal bacteria in a synthetic medium designed to replicate the conditions and composition of saliva in the oral environment is suggested to facilitate the identification of their metabolites. This approach is instrumental in assessing the potential of these metabolites as biomarkers for systemic illnesses.

• Book : 21(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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Centaurus A (Cen A) is the closest radio galaxy and a prime example of a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN), exhibiting complex emissions across the electromagnetic spectrum. The nature of its continuum emission, particularly the mechanisms powering it, has been a subject of considerable debate due to the fact that the AGN is deeply buried in dust and therefore not directly observable. This study aims to elucidate the origin of the continuum emission in Cen A and determine the geometrical arrangement of matter in the nuclear region by the mean of optical and near-infrared spectropolarimetry. We obtained spectropolarimetric data of Cen A using the VLT/FORS2, covering the 6100 -- 10300 Å spectral range with an effective resolving power of about 1000. Analysis was conducted on several regions near the obscured AGN, examining total and polarized fluxes, in order to find signatures of the AGN in scattered light. The analysis revealed a region showing strong and narrow emission lines associated with AGN activity. After correction for interstellar polarization in the dust lane (but not for starlight), the intrinsic polarization of the scattered AGN light exhibits a polarization degree of 2 -- 4%, decreasing from optical to near-infrared, associated with a polarization position angle perpendicular to the radio jet axis. We exclude the presence of a hidden broad line in our polarized flux spectrum at ge 99% probability. Narrow emission lines are found to be strongly polarized and orthogonal to the jet position angle. We demonstrate that a beamed synchrotron jet, scattering onto the narrow line region (NLR) best fits all the observational properties reported in this paper and the literature. In this model, the base of the NLR is obscured by a giant (ge 10 pc) circumnuclear region and can only become visible through perpendicular scattering onto the outermost part of the NLR, naturally producing high polarization degrees and polarization angles perpendicular to the radio structure. This study provides strong evidence that Cen A defines a new class of hidden-NLR AGNs in which two other objects naturally find their place (NGC 4258 and 3C 270) and this supports old predictions that beamed synchrotron jets can be observed in reflection. Future surveys should focus on identifying similar hidden-NLR AGNs, especially among misdirected BL Lac AGNs.

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AbstractThe sub‐Terahertz and Terahertz bands play a critical role in next‐generation wireless communication and sensing technologies, thanks to the large amount of available bandwidth in this spectral regime. While long‐wavelength (microwave to mm‐Wave) and short‐wavelength (near‐infrared to ultraviolet) devices are well‐established and studied, the sub‐THz to THz regime remains relatively underexplored and underutilized. Traditional approaches used in the aforementioned spectral regions are more difficult to replicate in the THz band, leading to the need for the development of novel devices and structures that can manipulate THz radiation effectively. Herein a novel organic, solid‐state electrochemical device is presented, capable of achieving modulation depths of over 90% from ≈500 nm of a conducting polymer that switches conductivity over a large dynamic range upon application of an electronically controllable external bias. The stability of such devices under long‐term, repeated voltage switching, as well as continuous biasing at a single voltage, is also explored. Switching stabilities and long‐term bias stabilities are achieved over two days for both use cases. Additionally, both depletion mode (always “ON”) and accumulation mode (always “OFF”) operation are demonstrated. These results suggest applications of organic electrochemical THz modulators in large area and flexible implementations.

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Background/Objectives: Radiotherapy is one of the various treatment options for patients with metastatic spinal tumors (MST). However, it is difficult to say that this is definitely an optimal treatment for MST, and there are several patients who need surgical treatment because pain or neurologic deficits occur even after radiotherapy. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze which patients received early operative treatment after radiotherapy. Methods: We included 81 patients who underwent decompression and fusion surgery after radiotherapy for MST. Patients who underwent surgery within 6 months after radiotherapy were classified as the early operation group (group E, n = 47), while surgery cases after 6 months after radiotherapy were assigned to the late operation group (group L, n = 34). Risk factor analysis using multivariate regression analysis for early operative treatment after radiotherapy was performed. Also, we analyzed the period from radiotherapy to surgery according to the Bilsky grade. Results: In multivariate analysis, pathologic fractures and semirigid (thoracic) lesions were more frequent in group E than group L (adjusted odds ratio, 4.282, 10.524; p = 0.001, 0.039). In subgroup analysis, there was a difference in the period from radiotherapy to surgery in Bilsky grades above 2 than Bilsky grade 1 (grade 1, 13.6 ± 11.4 months, grade 2, 6.9 ± 6.8 months, grade 3, 6.6 ± 7.5 months; grade 1 vs. 2, p = 0.049, grade 1 vs. 3, p = 0.047). Conclusions: Although the information in this study may only be limited to patients who underwent surgery, early operative treatment after radiotherapy is highly likely for patients with MST accompanied by a Bilsky grade above 2, pathologic fracture and thoracic lesion. In these patients, surgical treatment could be considered as the primary treatment.

• Book : 14(3)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.1032-1032
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The OMA-seq method allows for accurate and quantitative detection of 5hmC at single-nucleotide resolution by leveraging natural deaminases. The use of orthologous enzymes for 5hmC detection enhances the toolkit available for epigenetic study.

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Mixed transition metal sulfides are promising materials for positive electrodes of asymmetric supercapacitors because they have a large potential for increasing the electrical characteristics of these devices. The paper presents the results of a study of a material based on spinel CuCoNiSxO4−x with both sulfide and oxide sublattices, prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method directly on nickel foam, forming an array of whiskers. Electrochemical studies showed that a positive electrode, CuCoNiS2O2, exhibited a high specific capacitance of 3612 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. The assembled asymmetric supercapacitor with activated carbon as a negative electrode achieved a specific capacitance of 133.5 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a potential window of 1.7 V. Its energy density was 53.6 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 805 W kg−1 and the power density reached 17,000 W kg−1 at an energy density of 18.9 W h kg−1. The assembled device exhibits 52% of capacitance retention after the 20,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1 with 97% coulombic efficiency. These results demonstrate that the CuCoNiSxO4−x system is competitive with other quaternary transition metal sulfides, and this type of spinel is a perspective electrode material for high-performance supercapacitors.

• Book : 18(3)
• Pub. Date : 2025
• Page : pp.561-561
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Abstract Background A wide range of congenital and acquired abnormalities can impact the superior vena cava (SVC), with some remaining asymptomatic. The most common anomaly is the persistent left SVC draining into the coronary sinus or right atrium, while the right SVC draining into the left atrium is rarely found. These two conditions may coexist, which is an extremely rare phenomenon. Case presentation A 38-year-old man with a history of resected astrocytoma presented with seizures and cardiac arrest. Laboratory investigations revealed leukocytosis, hyperglycemia, severe acidosis, and elevated cardiac enzymes. Transthoracic echocardiogram was performed and was unremarkable. However, a bubble study was not performed at the time. Brain imaging confirmed a diagnosis of brain micro-abscesses/embolic infarctions, while cardiac computed tomography revealed a right-sided superior vena cava draining into the left atrium with a right-to-left shunt and a persistent left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus. Following the discovery of right-to-left shunt on cardiac CT, a transesophageal echocardiogram and a cardiac MRI were booked. However, the patient left against medical advice to go back to his home country and seek medical care there. Conclusion In conclusion, the coexistence of dual drainage of the superior vena cava, with the right SVC draining into the left atrium and the persistent left SVC draining into the right atrium, is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. The right-to-left shunt may result in significant cerebrovascular complications requiring surgical correction, while the persistent left SVC draining into the coronary sinus may require ablation if resulted in arrhythmias.

• Book : 56(1)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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The domains of lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) fields are classified as “near-field,” “intermediate-field,” and “far-field” based on qualitative descriptions. However, the systematic quantitative classification of LEMP fields is yet to be reported. This study characterized the wave impedance of lightning electromagnetic pulse (WILEMP) to solve this problem. The components and field domain distribution ranges of LEMP were analyzed by varying the WILEMP and the distance between the observation point and radiation source (r). The changes in the WILEMP with r under the influence of different factors were calculated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results indicated that the LEMP field has high impedance. the WILEMP decreased rapidly with the increase in r when r ≤ 10 km, consistent with the characteristics of the electrostatic and induction fields (near field). The WILEMP gradually decreased and stabilized with the increase in r when r ≥ 20 km, and the value was roughly the same as the impedance of free space (377 Ω) when r = 100 km, consistent with the characteristics of radiation field (far field). The decay rate of the WILEMP was lower than that when r ≤ 10 km but higher than that when r ≥ 20 km. Finally, when 10 km < r < 20 km, the apparent transitivity was consistent with intermediate-field characteristics.

• Book : 15(2)
• Pub. Date : 2025
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