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Biomarkers in acute coronary syndromes and their role in diabetic patients.

Diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes are at high risk for cardiovascular complications but risk stratification in these patients remains challenging. Regularly, diabetic patients have a less typical clinical presentation, which could lead to delayed diagnosis and subsequent delayed initiation of treatment. Since diabetic patients derive particular benefit from aggressive anti-platelet therapy, early diagnostic and therapeutic risk stratification of these patients is of critical importance to improve their adverse outcome. Although the electrocardiogram remains a pivotal diagnostic tool in the evaluation of patients suspected of having an acute coronary syndrome, only significant ST-segment changes provide reasonable prognostic information. Therefore, repeated assessment of circulating protein biomarkers represents a valuable diagnostic tool for improving efficacy and safety of decision-making in these patients. The combined use of biomarkers reflecting distinct pathophysiological aspects, such as myocardial necrosis, vascular inflammation, oxidative stress and neurohumoral activation, may significantly improve triage of patients with chest pain. These tools may identify those patients that are at particularly high risk for short-term and/or long-term cardiovascular events. Eventually, tailored medical and interventional treatment of diabetic patients should help to prevent these cardiac events in a cost-effective manner.

Acute Disease↗

Circulating Tumor DNA in Bladder Cancer: Current Clinical Evidence and Emerging Multi-Omics Perspectives-A Narrative Review.

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis has emerged as a promising tool for real-time disease monitoring in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). This narrative review summarizes current clinical evidence regarding ctDNA across disease stages. Methods: We examine recent translational and clinical findings, incorporating key prospective data from practice-changing trials, as well as insights into minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, treatment escalation and de-escalation strategies, and systemic barriers to adoption. Results: Postoperative ctDNA positivity consistently identifies patients with molecular residual disease (MRD) who face a substantially higher risk of recurrence and mortality, frequently preceding radiographic relapse by several months. Prospective evidence now validates ctDNA as a predictive biomarker to guide adjuvant immunotherapy escalation, while sustained ctDNA negativity correlates with high long-term disease-free survival. Beyond plasma ctDNA, emerging multi-compartment liquid biopsies-integrating urinary tumor DNA (utDNA)-demonstrate enhanced sensitivity, particularly in bladder-sparing and local surveillance settings. Furthermore, integrating genomic ctDNA profiling with novel post-transcriptional layers like epitranscriptomics offers a functional framework to capture tumor adaptation under therapeutic pressure. However, clinical translation remains constrained by a lack of assay harmonization, variable analytical sensitivity, and the need for standardized intervention thresholds. Conclusions: Longitudinal liquid biopsies are rapidly shifting MIBC management from static, stage-based paradigms toward dynamic, molecularly informed precision oncology. While ctDNA-guided strategies show robust clinical utility, prospective interventional validation and technical standardization are required before widespread routine integration.

biomarkers↗

Overview of the HUPO Plasma Proteome Project: results from the pilot phase with 35 collaborating laboratories and multiple analytical groups, generating a core dataset of 3020 proteins and a publicly-available database.

HUPO initiated the Plasma Proteome Project (PPP) in 2002. Its pilot phase has (1) evaluated advantages and limitations of many depletion, fractionation, and MS technology platforms; (2) compared PPP reference specimens of human serum and EDTA, heparin, and citrate-anti-coagulated plasma; and (3) created a publicly-available knowledge base (www.bioinformatics.med.umich.edu/hupo/ppp; www.ebi.ac.uk/pride). Thirty-five participating laboratories in 13 countries submitted datasets. Working groups addressed (a) specimen stability and protein concentrations; (b) protein identifications from 18 MS/MS datasets; (c) independent analyses from raw MS-MS spectra; (d) search engine performance, subproteome analyses, and biological insights; (e) antibody arrays; and (f) direct MS/SELDI analyses. MS-MS datasets had 15 710 different International Protein Index (IPI) protein IDs; our integration algorithm applied to multiple matches of peptide sequences yielded 9504 IPI proteins identified with one or more peptides and 3020 proteins identified with two or more peptides (the Core Dataset). These proteins have been characterized with Gene Ontology, InterPro, Novartis Atlas, OMIM, and immunoassay-based concentration determinations. The database permits examination of many other subsets, such as 1274 proteins identified with three or more peptides. Reverse protein to DNA matching identified proteins for 118 previously unidentified ORFs. We recommend use of plasma instead of serum, with EDTA (or citrate) for anticoagulation. To improve resolution, sensitivity and reproducibility of peptide identifications and protein matches, we recommend combinations of depletion, fractionation, and MS/MS technologies, with explicit criteria for evaluation of spectra, use of search algorithms, and integration of homologous protein matches. This Special Issue of PROTEOMICS presents papers integral to the collaborative analysis plus many reports of supplementary work on various aspects of the PPP workplan. These PPP results on complexity, dynamic range, incomplete sampling, false-positive matches, and integration of diverse datasets for plasma and serum proteins lay a foundation for development and validation of circulating protein biomarkers in health and disease.

Algorithms↗

Inflammatory markers and coronary artery disease.

In the past decade, the important role of inflammatory processes in the development and progression of atherosclerosis has been clearly established. Over the past two years, different circulating (inflammatory) biomarkers indicating the instability of atherosclerotic plaques have been identified. These new markers do not only serve as diagnostic tools for the identification of patients with unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction but also help us to identify high-risk patients. As a result, different markers are used clinically for risk stratification in stable coronary artery disease as well as in acute coronary syndromes.

Biomarkers↗

MicroRNAs in Veterinary Viral Diseases: A Comprehensive Review from Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Translation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length, that regulate post-transcriptional gene expression and have emerged as pivotal modulators of host-virus interactions. Veterinary viral diseases continue to pose substantial challenges to animal health, livestock productivity, food security, and public health, particularly due to their zoonotic potential. While miRNA research has advanced considerably, a comprehensive and critically integrated understanding of their biological functions and clinical applications across veterinary viral diseases remains incomplete. This comprehensive critical narrative synthesis addresses four overarching research questions: (1) What conserved and species-specific miRNA-mediated mechanisms govern major veterinary viral diseases? (2) What contextual factors determine antiviral vs. proviral duality? (3) To what extent do circulating miRNA signatures offer diagnostic and prognostic utility? (4) What translational barriers currently prevent clinical implementation, and how can the One Health framework help overcome them? Integrating three interconnected dimensions-molecular mechanisms, pathogen-specific responses, and translational applications-the review synthesizes evidence across PRRSV, avian oncogenic viruses (MDV, ALV), the immunosuppressive IBDV, FMD, BVDV, Ebola, Hendra, Rabies, and aquatic viral diseases. A key contribution of this review is the proposal of a four-axis contextual framework that explains the antiviral/proviral duality of miRNAs, and a 'One miRNA, One Health' convergence model with a concrete implementation roadmap. Key findings include: (a) a four-axis contextual framework (cell type, infection stage, viral strain, host-viral miRNA competition) that explains the antiviral/proviral duality; (b) virus-encoded miRNAs (v-miRNAs) as lower-risk therapeutic targets due to their absence from uninfected host genomes; (c) circulating miRNA biomarkers validated only at proof-of-concept stage (TRL 1-3), with no veterinary product yet at TRL ≥4; and (d) zoonotic conservation of miR-155, miR-146a, miR-21, and miR-122 across human and veterinary pathogens, supporting a 'One miRNA, One Health' convergence strategy. Critical short-term priorities are standardized pre-analytical protocols, open-access veterinary miRNA databases, and multicenter validation in natural infection cohorts.

Antiviral therapy↗

Time-dependent cellular population of textured-surface left ventricular assist devices contributes to the development of a biphasic systemic procoagulant response.

OBJECTIVE: Textured-surface left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have been shown to enhance ventricular function and survival in patients with end-stage heart failure. Furthermore, we have described a procoagulant physiology in our LVAD population with sustained thrombin generation (elevated thrombin-antithrombin III complex and prothrombin fragment 1+2) and fibrinolysis (D-dimers), even up to 335 days after LVAD placement. To explain such sustained activation of coagulation, we speculated that the LVAD surface selectively adsorbed and promoted activation of circulating blood cells. METHODS: In a prospective study of 20 patients with LVADs, we examined samples of peripheral blood as well as cells harvested from the surface of the LVADs at the time of their explantation for procoagulant proinflammatory markers. RESULTS: Analysis of the cells populating the LVAD surface revealed the presence of pluripotent hematopoietic CD34(+) cells, as well as cells bearing monocyte (CD14)/macrophage (CD68) markers, which also expressed procoagulant tissue factor. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction confirmed cellular activation on the LVAD surface, revealing transcripts for interleukin 1alpha, interleukin 2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, in addition to vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 consistent with their capacity to continually recruit and activate circulating cells, thereby propagating their response. In the periphery, elevated levels of tissue factor were found in the plasma of patients with LVADs, along with enhanced procoagulant activity. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the LVAD surface selectively absorbs and activates circulating hematopoietic precursor and monocytic cells, thereby creating a sustained prothrombotic and potentially proinflammatory systemic environment.

Adolescent↗

RNA splicing and cardiovascular disease: a guide for cardiologists.

Alternative splicing (AS) is a fundamental RNA processing mechanism, which generates different RNA transcripts and consequently different protein isoforms from a single gene. This increases the diversity of proteins within an organism and can fine-tune biological processes. This review examines how cardiac-enriched RNA-binding proteins establish heart-specific splicing programs governing aspects of cardiac development, function, and disease. Developmentally, coordinated sarcomeric isoform switches underpin the foetal-to-adult transition and further isoform rewiring in ion channel and kinase genes determine electrophysiology and excitation-contraction coupling. AS contributes to the pathogenesis of several cardiomyopathies and emerging datasets suggest that pathological hypertrophy engages distinct splicing signatures compared with physiological hypertrophy. This review summarizes diagnostic and prognostic opportunities arising from bulk, long-read, and single-cell/nucleus transcriptomics, which resolve cell type-specific isoforms and disease-associated switches. Circulating RNA biomarkers (including splice ratios and circularRNAs) may signify myocardial remodelling and arrhythmic risk. Integrative approaches that link AS with proteomics and genomics improve variant interpretation, reveal previously unannotated protein isoforms, and enable tracking of disease progression and therapy response. Finally, an outline of therapeutic strategies to modulate AS in cardiovascular disease (CVD), including antisense oligonucleotides, small molecules, and genome-editing modalities (CRISPR, base, and prime editing), is provided. The major challenges that remain before splice-targeting therapeutics can be targeted to treat cardiovascular disease are highlighted. Lessons from neuromuscular indications establish clinical feasibility of splicing correction and motivate translation to cardiology. Together, mechanistic insight, biomarker development, and therapeutic innovation position RNA splicing as a tractable axis for precision cardiovascular medicine.

Humans↗

The influence of environmental exposure to complex mixtures including PAHs and lead on genotoxic effects in children living in Upper Silesia, Poland.

Environmental exposure is a complex mixture of hazardous compounds with different mechanisms of toxicity. In case of concomitant exposure to carcinogenic substances--such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)--and to heavy metals--such as lead (Pb)--the level of DNA damage may be enhanced. Children are considered more vulnerable than adults to chemical toxicants because they take in more toxicants as a proportion of body mass and because of inherent biological growth and developmental factors. The objective of the study was to measure cytogenetic effects in Silesian children and to investigate their relation with the environmental exposure to PAHs and Pb. The examined population included 74 children 5-14-year-old who lived in two cities located in the most polluted centre of the Silesia province. Individual exposure to lead was assessed for each child by measuring lead in blood (PbB), and to PAH by measuring 1-hydroxypyrene in urine (1-OHP), urinary mutagenicity and DNA adducts in circulating lymphocytes. Biomarkers of genetic effects were assessed by measuring micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in children's peripheral lymphocytes. The mean levels of biomarkers of exposure were as follows: PbB 7.69 microg/dl, DNA adducts 9.59 adducts per 10(8) nt, 1-OHP 0.54 micromol/mol creatinine, and urinary mutagenicity presented as the number of revertants per mmol of creatinine: 485 for TA 98 and 1318 for YG1024. Mean value of MN was 4.44 per 1000 binucleated cells and SCE frequency ranged between 6.24 and 10.06 with a mean value of 7.87. The results suggest the influence of exposure to environmental agents on the induction of cytogenetic effects in peripheral lymphocytes of children: namely Pb on MN and PAHs on SCE. The sources of that exposure may be outdoor and indoor. Emissions from coal-burning stoves are important contributors to the total exposure to PAHs and Pb in Silesian children.

Adolescent↗

Skeletal muscles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: deconditioning, or myopathy?

In recent years, COPD has become increasingly thought of as a systemic disease affecting many tissues and organs in addition to the lungs. The skeletal muscles in particular have been the target of much research focusing on whether the universally observed exercise limitation reflects a systemic myopathic effect of COPD, or simply the consequences of extreme, long-term inactivity. In this paper, the evidence is reviewed for COPD patients without loss of muscle mass and who are not taking systemic steroids. While altered levels of antioxidant defences (lower), circulating inflammatory biomarkers (higher) and anabolic hormones (lower) have been found in COPD, cause and effect remains to be established for the link of inflammation/oxidative stress to muscle dysfunction. Other evidence used to propose a myopathic state (early lactate release, reduced power output, lower metabolic enzyme capacities, greater phosphocreatine breakdown and slower phosphocreatine restoration after exercise, and altered fibre type distribution) also occur in normal subjects who are extremely inactive. Furthermore, intense small muscle mass training can normalize small muscle function in these patients. Based on these data, it remains to be shown that the muscles in COPD patients without loss of muscle mass are myopathic. The interesting discussion about systemic effects of COPD should not get in the way of systematic muscle training, which has been shown to be an effective component of rehabilitation.

Exercise Therapy↗

Long-term animal survival with an implantable axial flow pump as a left ventricular assist device.

We are developing an axial flow blood pump with Nimbus Inc. (AxiPump). For in vivo evaluation the AxiPump has been used as a left ventricular assist device with a left ventricular and descending aorta cannulation and implantation in a small pocket on the left lateral abdominal wall just posterior to the costal margin. Electrical and flow probe leads exit the body transcutaneously. A purge line that delivers the purge fluid for lubrication of the seal between the rotor and stator bodies in the purge fluid bearing system is tunneled with the other leads. Following acute animal studies, 3 animals have been supported for over 1 month with this AxiPump system. All laboratory results were within normal limits except during a recovery period from surgical damage. Hemolysis was not a serious problem. In the first case, the purge system failed at 28 days, and in the second and third cases, the nonpurge bearing system worked well for 57 and 52 days, respectively. Bearings are still under development in this kind of pump. However, this success encourages us to improve the AxiPump as a long-term assist device.

Animals↗

Preliminary results on safety and activity of a randomized, double-blind, 2 x 2 trial of low-dose tamoxifen and fenretinide for breast cancer prevention in premenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To determine whether low-dose tamoxifen and fenretinide have a synergistic effect on surrogate biomarkers, including circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and mammographic density, in premenopausal women at risk for breast cancer and to study drug safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Premenopausal women (n = 235) were randomly assigned in a double-blind four-arm trial to receive tamoxifen 5 mg/d, fenretinide 200 mg/d, both agents, or placebo for 2 years. The present analysis refers to preliminary data on safety, IGF-I, and breast cancer events. RESULTS: Patients were included if they had an excised ductal carcinoma-in-situ (57%), lobular carcinoma-in-situ (13%), minimal invasive breast cancer (7%), or a 5-year Gail risk > or = 1.3% (23%). After a median follow-up of 40 months, there was a reduction of 13%, 2%, 20%, and 1% in IGF-I levels for patients on tamoxifen, fenretinide, tamoxifen plus fenretinide, and placebo, respectively. Recruitment was stopped based on the lack of an interaction on IGF-I levels, which was a primary end point for the study. Thirty-six patients have dropped out of the study, 17 because of adverse events and 19 for various other reasons. One stage I endometrial cancer occurred in a patient on fenretinide, and one optic nerve ischemia and one deep venous thrombosis occurred on tamoxifen. There was no difference in menopausal symptoms, endometrial thickness, polyps, or ovarian cysts among treatment arms. To date, 24 breast cancers have been observed, without differences among arms. CONCLUSION: The combination of low-dose tamoxifen and fenretinide is safe but not synergistic in lowering IGF-I levels in premenopausal women. The clinical implications require further follow-up.

Adult↗

Alternative pathway of complement is activated during in vitro ventricular assist.

BACKGROUND: Although ventricular assist devices (VAD) have improved survival in selected patients, their use continues to be complicated by thromboembolism and end-organ failure. Complement activation may play a role in the pathogenesis of these complications. Previous studies have found that the complement common terminal pathway is activated during VAD circulation. C3a levels rise dramatically during VAD use. Because the C3a fragment is generated by either the alternative or classical pathway, the purpose of this study is to determine the relative importance of the respective pathways in complement activation during in vitro VAD circulation. METHODS: Six in vitro VAD circuits were simulated for 3 days using 450 mL of human blood. Temperature, activated clotting time, pH, pCO2, pO2, Ca2+, and glucose were maintained at physiologic levels. Enzyme immunoassays were used to measure concentrations of fragment Bb to indicate alternative pathway activation and fragment C4d to indicate classical pathway activation. RESULTS: Fragment Bb concentrations rise from 1.92 to 10.77 micrograms/mL during the first 6 hours of circulation. Thereafter, Bb levels plateau. C4d concentrations slowly rise from a baseline of 1.49 to 6.84 micrograms/mL in 72 hours. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both the alternative and classical pathways of complement are activated during VAD circulation. Alternative pathway activation precedes classical pathway activation during in vitro VAD circulation and may be of greater clinical importance during clinical VAD circulation.

Assisted Circulation↗

Circulating levels of copeptin, a novel biomarker, in lower respiratory tract infections.

BACKGROUND: Vasopressin has haemodynamic as well as osmoregulatory effects, and reflects the individual stress response. Copeptin is co-synthesized with vasopressin, directly mirroring vasopressin levels, but is more stable in plasma and serum. Both levels are increased in patients with septic shock. Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are a precursor of sepsis. Thus, we investigated circulating levels and the prognostic use of copeptin for the severity and outcome in patients with LRTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred and forty-five consecutive patients with LRTI and 50 healthy controls were evaluated. Serum copeptin levels were measured with a new chemiluminescent sandwich immunoassay. RESULTS: Of the 545 patients, 373 had community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), 60 acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 59 acute bronchitis, 13 exacerbations of asthma and 40 other final diagnoses. Copeptin levels were significantly higher in patients with LRTI as compared to controls (P < 0.001) with highest levels in patients with CAP. Copeptin levels increased with increasing severity of CAP, as classified by the pneumonia severity index (PSI) (P < 0.001). In patients who died, copeptin levels on admission were significantly higher as compared to levels in survivors [70.0 (28.8-149.0) vs. 24.3 (10.8-43.8) pmol L(-1), P < 0.001]. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) for survival was 0.75 for copeptin, which was significantly higher as compared to C-reactive protein (AUC 0.61, P = 0.01), leukocyte count (AUC 0.59, P = 0.01) and similar to procalcitonin (AUC 0.68, P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Copeptin levels are increased with increasing severity of LRTI namely in patients with CAP and unfavourable outcome. Copeptin levels, as a novel biomarker, might be a useful tool in the risk stratification of patients with LRTI.

Aged↗

Circulating cell-free DNA: a novel biomarker for response to therapy in ovarian carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Cell-free DNA (CFDNA) is a reflection of both normal and tumor-derived DNA released into the circulation through cellular necrosis and apoptosis. We sought to determine whether tumor-specific plasma DNA could be used as a biomarker for tumor burden and response to therapy in an orthotopic ovarian cancer model. METHODS: Female nude mice injected intraperitoneally with HeyA8 ovarian cancer cells were treated with either docetaxel alone or in combination with anti-angiogenic agents (AEE788-dual VEGFR and EGFR antagonist or EA5-monoclonal antibody against ephrin A2). Following DNA extraction from plasma, quantification of tumor-specific DNA was performed by real-time PCR using human specific beta-actin primers. The number of genome equivalents (GE/ml) were determined from a standard curve. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining of treated tumors. RESULTS: The levels of tumor-specific DNA in plasma increased progressively with increasing tumor burden (R2=0.8, p<0.01). Additionally, tumor-specific plasma DNA levels varied following treatment with chemotherapy. In mice with established tumors (19 days following tumor injection), tumor-specific plasma DNA levels increased by 63% at 24 hours following a single dose of docetaxel (15 mg/kg), and then declined to 20% below baseline at 72 hours and were 83% lower than baseline 10 days following therapy. In addition, docetaxel treatment resulted in a significant increase in the apoptotic index at 24 hours (p<0.01). Moreover, in two separate therapy experiments using a combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy with anti-angiogenic agents, tumor-specific plasma DNA levels were significantly higher in mice treated with vehicle compared to the treatment groups. The correlation between tumor weight and tumor-specific DNA in these experiments was 0.71-0.76 (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that tumor-specific CFDNA levels correlate with increasing tumor burden and decline following therapy. Thus, tumor-specific DNA may be a useful surrogate biomarker of therapeutic response and should be evaluated in future clinical trials.

Animals↗

HPV circulating tumor DNA as a potential prognostic and predictive biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Human papillomavirus circulating tumor DNA (HPVctDNA) has emerged as a promising prognostic biomarker in HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of HPVctDNA in HNSCC management. MATERIAL/METHODS: We systematically reviewed a PubMed-indexed database of studies published between January 2012 and September 2025. Eligible studies were assessed for design, primary tumor site and stage, treatment modality, HPVctDNA detection method, diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity), and reported clinical endpoints. Descriptive syntheses were performed; sensitivity and specificity were standardized to proportions and summarized as median values per group. RESULTS: A total of 60 studies, including 8,234 patients were analyzed, of which 41 (68.3%) focused exclusively on oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and 17 (28.3%) included mixed HPV-related HNSCC subsites and HPV-positive cancers of unknown primary. The median follow-up across the included studies was 23&#xa0;months. Among the included studies, 19 were retrospective (31.7%) and 33 were prospective (55.0%), with a small proportion of cross-sectional and randomized clinical trials. Overall, 40 (66.7%) evaluated the role of HPVctDNA in a curative setting. Plasma was the most common sample type, analyzed in 55 studies (91.7%), while 5 studies also included saliva. Detection methods varied: 40 employed droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), 16 used quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 4 applied NGS-based assays. Most of these studies (38, 63.3%) evaluated the prognostic utility of HPVctDNA, while only 4 (6.7%) assessed HPVctDNA in a screening or diagnostic setting. Regarding diagnostic accuracy, the median sensitivity across evaluable studies was 91.1%, while the median specificity was 99.4%. In OPSCC-only cohorts, the median sensitivity and specificity were 89.4% and 99.4%, respectively. Dynamic changes in HPVctDNA levels during or after treatment were consistently associated with outcomes: clearance or sustained negativity correlated with higher response rates, improved progression-free survival and overall survival, while persistent positivity or increasing levels predicted disease progression and recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: HPVctDNA demonstrates high diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in HPV-related HNSCC, especially OPSCC, supporting its use for prognosis, treatment monitoring and early detection of recurrence. However, prospective interventional studies are still required to demonstrate that HPVctDNA-guided treatment decisions improve clinical outcomes before routine implementation.

Humans↗