What is needed to successfully implement the EU HTA Regulation enabling broad patient access in Europe.

There has been a lot of discussion on the technical aspects of the soon to be implemented European Union's Health Technology Assessment (EU HTA) regulation. However, there has been limited discussion on the implementation aspects and the potential limitations from a policy perspective. In May 2024, a group of HTA experts with previous policy responsibilities met in Rome to propose some policy aspects to be considered.

Effect of milk fat globules on growth and metabolism in rats fed an unbalanced diet.

We assessed the effects of supplementing milk fat globules (MFG) on the growth and development of the skeleton in rats fed a Western unbalanced diet (UBD). The UBD is high in sugar and fat, low in protein, fiber, and micronutrients, and negatively impacts health. The MFG-a complex lipid-protein assembly secreted into milk-has a unique structure and composition, which differs significantly from isolated and processed dietary ingredients.

Development of Criteria for a Positive Front-of-Package Food Labeling: The Israeli Case.

Efforts to shape the food environment are aimed at reducing diet-related co-morbidities. Front-of-package labeling (FOPL) may support the consumers to make an informed decision at the point of purchase and encourage industry to reformulate food products. The Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented a unique FOPL system, using two colors: A mandatory warning (red) label alongside a voluntary positive (green) label.

Lichen Planus With Predominate Plasma Cell Infiltrate: Two Case Reports.

Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous inflammatory dermatitis of idiopathic origin that can involve the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and nails. LP has an associated set of characteristic histopathologic findings which include hyperkeratosis, vacuolization of the basal layer, Civatte bodies, wedge-shaped hypergranulosis, band-like lymphocytic infiltrate at the dermal epidermal junction, eosinophilic colloid bodies in the papillary dermis, and pigment incontinence. The infiltrate is usually composed of lymphocytes with few histiocytes, mast cells, and macrophages.

Boundaries of American Identity: Relations between Ethnic Group Prototypicality and Policy Attitudes.

We sought to document that the extent to which different ethnic groups are perceived as embodying the American identity is more strongly linked to anti-minority policy attitudes and acculturation ideologies among majority group members (European Americans) than among minority group members (Asian Americans or Latino/as). Participants rated 13 attributes of the American identity as they pertain to different ethnic groups, and reported their endorsement of policy attitudes and acculturation ideologies. We found a relative consensus across ethnic groups regarding defining components of the American identity.

A 52-year-old male with bilaterally duplicated collecting systems with obstructing ureteral stones: a case report.

Collecting system duplication is marked by a variety of clinical syndromes. Bilateral and obstructed duplicated systems, particularly with asymmetric levels of duplication, are rare and typically due to ureteric bud development anomalies. The infrequency with which this condition exists makes it a formidable challenge for physicians and patients.

Splenogonadal fusion: a rare etiology of solid testicular mass.

A 35-year-old man presented with a painless left scrotal mass. Pathologic examination after orchiectomy revealed splenogonadal fusion. Splenogonadal fusion is an exceptionally rare, typically benign, congenital anomaly.

Organizing communities around care transitions: the community connections experience.

The Community Connections initiative provides an example of building collaboration and partnerships across traditional boundaries--public-private, medical home, and community-based services--to improve care transitions and support for older adults and adults with disabilities. This approach was inspired by the self-governance and community engagement model, with the knowledge, experience, and participation of community stakeholders.

Relationship between neurologic deficit severity and final functional outcome shifts and strengthens during first hours after onset.

Background And Purpose: Early neurological deficit severity is the most important determinant of final functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke. However, deficit severity frequently changes during the first hours and days postonset.

Methods: Analysis of control group patients enrolled in the 2 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke tissue-type plasminogen activator trials.

Statistical analysis of the primary outcome in acute stroke trials.

Common outcome scales in acute stroke trials are ordered categorical or pseudocontinuous in structure but most have been analyzed as binary measures. The use of fixed dichotomous analysis of ordered categorical outcomes after stroke (such as the modified Rankin Scale) is rarely the most statistically efficient approach and usually requires a larger sample size to demonstrate efficacy than other approaches. Preferred statistical approaches include sliding dichotomous, ordinal, or continuous analyses.

Resistance of Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 to direct killing by antimicrobial peptides is protease independent.

Antimicrobial peptides are short, positively charged, amphipathic peptides that possess a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity and have an important role in the host's innate immunity. Lack of, or dysfunctions in, antimicrobial peptides have been correlated with infectious diseases, including periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative anaerobe and a major pathogen associated with periodontal diseases, is resistant to antimicrobial peptides of human and nonhuman origin, a feature that likely contributes to its virulence.

CZT gamma camera for scintimammography.

A high performance prototype gamma camera based on the semiconductor radiation detector Cd(Zn)Te is described. The camera features high spatial resolution, high-energy resolution, a reduced dead space on the edge of the field of view, and a compact format. The camera performance was first examined by comparison of small field of view examinations with those from an Elscint SP6HR standard clinical gamma camera.

In vitro assessment of antimicrobial peptides as potential agents against several oral bacteria.

Background: Antimicrobial peptides are components of the innate immunity that play an important role in systemic and oral health.

Objectives: The antibacterial activity of the amphibian-derived K4 -S4(1-15)a antimicrobial peptide was tested against oral pathogens associated with caries and periodontitis and compared with the activities of the human-derived antimicrobial peptides LL-37 and dhvar4a.

Methods: Growth inhibition of planktonic bacteria was tested using standard microdilution assays.

4-Hydroxy tempol-induced impairment of mitochondrial function and augmentation of glucose transport in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

The water-soluble and cell permeable nitroxide derivative 4-hydroxy tempol (TPL) has been shown to reduce or ameliorate oxidative stress-induced dysfunction and damage in vascular endothelial cells. We studied the effects of TPL on glucose transport and metabolism in bovine aortic endothelial (VEC) and smooth muscle cells (VSMC) under normal and high glucose conditions. Normally, these cells operate an autoregulatory protective mechanism that limits the rate of glucose transport under hyperglycemic conditions by decreasing the cell content of their typical glucose transporter GLUT-1 mRNA and protein as well as its plasma membrane abundance.

Food-drug interaction: grapefruit juice augments drug bioavailability--mechanism, extent and relevance.

More than a decade has passed since it was unintentionally discovered that grapefruit juice interacts with certain drugs. The coadministration of these drugs with grapefruit juice can markedly elevate drug bioavailability, and can alter pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of the drug. The predominant mechanism for this interaction is the inhibition of cytochrome P-450 3A4 in the small intestine, resulting in a significant reduction of drug presystemic metabolism.

Clinical performance of PET/CT in evaluation of cancer: additional value for diagnostic imaging and patient management.

Unlabelled: This study assessed the clinical performance of a combined PET/CT system using (18)F-FDG in oncologic patients.

Methods: (18)F-FDG PET/CT was used to evaluate 204 patients with 586 suspicious lesions. All patients had available follow-up data, enabling assessment of the clinical significance of hybrid PET/CT findings.

Recommended micronutrient supplementation for institutionalized elderly.

A committee nominated by the Israel Ministry of Health examined the relevant literature and the local recommendations as well as the recommendations from other countries and suggested a daily micronutrient supplementation for institutionalized elderly living in institutions supervised by the Ministry of Health. The micronutrient preparatory, tailored for this population, is designed to contain about half the RDA for most of the vitamins and some microelements. Biotin and vitamins C, D and B12 as well as zinc, copper, chromium and molybdenum are suggested at a level higher than half the RDA, whereas fluorine, at a lower level.

[Micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) supplementation for the elderly, suggested by a special committee nominated by Ministry of Health].

The elderly tend to be at a higher risk for nutritional deficiencies and in particular for micronutrient deficiencies. A committee nominated by Ministry of Health examined the relevant literature and the local recommendations as well as the recommendations from other countries and suggested a daily special micronutrient supplementation for institutionalized elderly. The preparatory will contain about half the RDA for most of the micronutrients, except for fluorine that is recommended at a lower level and biotin, vitamins D, C, B12 as well as zinc, copper and molybdenum at a level higher than half the RDA.

Subclinical hallucinations and delusions in nonpsychotic adolescents.

A number of studies have suggested that clinical populations of adolescents may report hallucinations and/or delusions without meeting criteria for a psychotic disorder. The purpose of this study was to provide information about the prevalence and symptom correlates of these subclinical hallucinations and delusions that occur in a nonpsychotic population of adolescents. Thirty-eight adolescents from a residential program and day treatment center were assessed with respect to hallucinatory experiences, ideas of reference, paranoid ideation, dissociative experiences, depressive symptomatology, and schizotypal cognitions.

Prenatal exposure to alcohol in adult rats: relationships between sleep and memory deficits, and effects of glucose administration on memory.

Previous studies show that prenatal exposure to alcohol results in sleep deficits in rats, including reductions in paradoxical sleep. Little is known, however, about the extent or duration of sleep impairments beyond the neonatal period. The present experiment examined effects of prenatal exposure on sleep in young adulthood.

Anxiety-like and depression-like behavior in Maudsley reactive (MR) and non-reactive (NMRA) rats.

1. Female MR ("anxious") and MNRA ("non-anxious") Maudsley rats were tested in the CSD behavioral conflict paradigm (anxiety-like measure) and also in the FST paradigm (depression-like measure). 2.