Mean Platelet Volume as an Emerging Biomarker for Diagnosing Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency that requires a timely and accurate diagnosis to prevent complications. Several laboratory markers have been assessed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of acute appendicitis, including C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, and cytokines like interleukins and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. One less commonly used but potentially valuable marker is the mean platelet volume (MPV), which indicates the size of circulating platelets and has the potential to serve as a biomarker for inflammatory conditions.

Hypothesized pharmacogenomic and medication influences on tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol metabolism in a cohort of unselected oral cannabis users.

Background: Differences in cannabinoid metabolism and patient responses can arise even with equivalent doses and formulations. Genetic polymorphisms in genes responsible for cannabinoid metabolism and medications that alter CYP450 pathways responsible for metabolism of cannabinoids may account for some of this variability.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on a cohort of unselected patients who had previously completed pharmacogenomic testing and reported oral cannabis use, as defined as "oral" or "by mouth" route of administration.

Predicting Severity of Acute Pancreatitis-Evaluation of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Count Ratio as Emerging Biomarker: A Retrospective Analytical Study.

Introduction Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a pancreatic inflammatory disease that can range in severity from mild, self-limiting forms to severe cases with high mortality rates. AP has various etiologies, including lifestyle factors like alcohol consumption and obesity, and its rapid progression makes early and accurate prediction of severity critical for effective management and improved patient outcomes. The traditional AP severity assessment tools, such as Ranson's criteria and APACHE II, require extensive data and time, making them less feasible in emergency settings.

Potential Use of Voice-Activated Personal Assistants in Diabetes Prevention and Management: An Exploratory Qualitative Study Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Background: Diabetes affects millions of people in the United States and poses significant health and economic challenges, but it can be prevented or managed through health behavior changes. Such changes might be aided by voice-activated personal assistants (VAPAs), which offer interactive and real-time assistance through features such as reminders, or obtaining health information. However, there are little data on interest and acceptability of integrating VAPAs into programs such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) or diabetes, self-management, education, and support (DSMES) services.

A clinical perspective on muscle specific kinase antibody positive myasthenia gravis.

The discovery of autoantibodies directed against muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) in "seronegative" myasthenia gravis (MG) patients marked a milestone in MG research. In healthy muscle, MuSK regulates a phosphorylation pathway, which is essential for the development and maintenance of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters at the neuromuscular junction. Autoantibodies directed against MuSK are predominantly of the IgG4 subclass, but there is increasing evidence that IgG1-3 could also contribute to the pathology underlying MuSK-MG.