Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and frequent primary brain tumor in adults with a median overall survival of 15 months. Tumor recurrence and poor prognosis are related to cancer stem cells (CSCs), which drive resistance to therapies. A common characteristic in GBM is CDKN2A gene loss, located close to the cluster of type I IFN genes at Ch9p21. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an avian paramyxovirus with oncolytic and immunostimulatory properties that has been proposed for the treatment of GBM. We have analyzed the CDKN2A-IFN I gene cluster in 1018 glioma tumors and evaluated the NDV oncolytic effect in six GBM CSCs ex vivo and in a mouse model. Our results indicate that more than 50% of GBM patients have some IFN deletion. Moreover, GBM susceptibility to NDV is dependent on the loss of the type I IFN. Infection of GBM with an NDV-expressing influenza virus NS1 protein can overcome the resistance to oncolysis by NDV of type I-competent cells. These results highlight the potential of using NDV vectors in antitumor therapies.

Background: The morbidity and mortality associated with influenza viruses are a significant public health challenge. Annual vaccination against circulating influenza strains reduces hospitalisations and increases survival rates but requires a yearly redesign of vaccines against prevalent subtypes. The complex genetics of influenza viruses with high antigenic drift create an ongoing challenge in vaccine development to address dynamic influenza epidemiology. Understanding the evolution of influenza viruses and the vaccine's effectiveness against different types and subtypes is pivotal to designing public health measures against influenza.Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 192 705 patients, collecting information on the incidence and severity of the disease. The results of this meta-analysis were further validated using data from 6 594 765 patients from TriNetX. We analysed the prevalence of the most common influenza A virus (IAV) subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2) and influenza B virus (IBV), as well as vaccination effectiveness against them in three age groups, given that age is associated with influenza disease severity.Results: Our analysis reflects that overall vaccination against H1N1 IAV and IBV is effective in reducing infection and influenza-related complications in children aged 65 years old. By contrast, while vaccination against H3N2 IAV is effective in protecting against infection in infants <5 years old, it provides reduced protection against infection in older individuals.Conclusions: Despite higher infection rates, vaccination against H3N2 remains as highly effective as vaccination against H1N1 and IBV in reducing influenza-related morbidity and mortality in all age groups. Detailing vaccine effectiveness in terms of infection protection and disease burden across different age groups is necessary for understanding vaccine impacts in terms of other outcomes,e.g.hospitalisations, mortality and disease severity; for improving vaccine formulations and public awareness; and for enhancing vaccination campaigns to improve coverage and public acceptance.

Background: Biofilm removal from the root canal during endodontic treatment is necessary to prevent further complications. Irrigation is essential to success. Several irrigants have been proposed without a proper comparison. The aim of the study is to compare the antibacterial capacity of different activated irrigants using passive ultrasonic activation (PUI) or XP-Endo finisher (XPF). Methods: A total of 100 instrumented teeth were incubated in an Eppendorf tube containing 0.5 McFarland of Enterococcus faecalis and incubated for 2 weeks at 37 °C. Roots were divided into 5 groups (n = 20) according to the irrigant type: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (17%), ethydronic acid (HEDP) (9%) mixed with 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), EDTA (17%) mixed with 5.25% NaOCl, PBS, and a control group. Each group was divided into two subgroups (n = 10): PUI and XPF. Results: As compared to the untreated control group, the irrigators included in the study had a significant effect in bacteria reduction. The obtained results show HEDP to be the most effective irrigant, since no bacteria were recovered after treatment of this group, followed by EDTA mixed with NaOCl and, finally, the EDTA-irrigated group. Conclusions: HEDP is the best irrigating agent in combination with XPF or PUI file activation to eliminate bacteria in our experimental model.

The objectives of the present study were to assess the antibacterial effectiveness of two sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) concentrations (2.5% and 5.25%) activated by means of two techniques, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and XP-endo^® Finisher (FKG Dentaire SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) (XPF) against bacteria growth in intracanal mature biofilm. Our aim was to determine if the effect of heating up NaOCl at body temperature (BT) contributed to an improvement of the efficacy of XPF. Sixty-two single-canal human roots previously instrumented were infected with E. faecalis inoculum at 0.5 McFarland and incubated at 37 °C for two weeks. Twelve specimens were randomly selected as positive control, and the remaining fifty were divided into five experimental groups (n = 10). The first two were irrigated with 2.5 vs. 5.25% NaOCl at room temperature (RT), activated with PUI, and the other three were irrigated with XPF. Of these three, two were irrigated using 2.5 vs. 5.25% NaOCl at RT and one was irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl at BT. Our results showed that NaOCl was effective in biofilm removal for all experimental groups (p > 0.05), especially in the groups irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl at room temperature (RT) activated with PUI and the group treated with 5.25% NaOCl at BT with XPF. These groups were the most successful ones (p < 0.001). NaOCl, activated with XPF, was as effective as PUI in biofilm removal from the apical third of the canal when it was used at higher concentration and heated up. This study indicates that XPF only reached the efficacy of PUI when NaOCl was heated up.