Eye reactions under the influence of drugs of abuse as measured by smartphones: a controlled clinical study in healthy volunteers.

Background: It is known that illicit and prescribed drugs impact pupil size, eye movement and function. Still, comprehensive quantitative evaluations under known ambient light conditions are lacking, when smartphones are used for monitoring.

Methods: In this clinical study (NCT05731999), four medicinal products with addiction risks were administered to 48 subjects (18-70 years old, all with informed consent, 12 subjects per drug).

Higher plasma total tau concentrations among patients reporting CNS-related side effects from antiseizure medication.

Background: Side effects from antiseizure medication (ASM) are common in epilepsy but biomarkers for detection and monitoring are missing. This study investigated associations between CNS-related side effects from ASM and blood concentrations of the brain injury markers neurofilament-light (NFL), total tau, glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP), S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

Methods: This is a population-based cohort study of adults with epilepsy recruited from five Swedish outpatient neurology clinics from December 2020 to April 2023.

An Evolutionary Federated Learning Approach to Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease Under Uncertainty.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) leads to severe cognitive impairment and functional decline in patients, and its exact cause remains unknown. Early diagnosis of AD is imperative to enable timely interventions that can slow the progression of the disease. This research tackles the complexity and uncertainty of AD by employing a multimodal approach that integrates medical imaging and demographic data.

Insulin Sensitivity Controls Activity of Pathogenic CD4+ T Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Hyperinsulinemia connects obesity, and a poor lipid profile, with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we investigated consequences of insulin exposure for T cell function in the canonical autoimmunity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We observed that insulin levels correlated with the glycolytic index of CD4+ cells but suppressed transcription of insulin receptor substrates, which was inversely related to insulin sensitivity.

Urethral pharmacological mechanisms incontinence and bladder emptying: An updated review.

Background: The urethral wall consists of layers of striated muscle, circular and longitudinal smooth muscles, collagen fibers, and a vascular plexus. However, the relative contributions of these components to urethral pressure in humans remain poorly understood. The circular and longitudinal smooth muscle components can develop a spontaneous contractile activity, generating a basal tone.

Diagnostic value of EEG after a first unprovoked seizure in adults - A population-based study.

Objective: Electroencephalography (EEG) is a standard investigation after a first unprovoked seizure but the diagnostic value in adults remains unclear. Our objective was to investigate the diagnostic value of EEG after a first unprovoked seizure in a population-based cohort in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Methods: This retrospective population-based study included adult patients referred by a neurologist for EEG after a first unprovoked seizure from August 2016 - December 2019 in the greater Gothenburg catchment area.

Experiences of undergoing internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for climate change-related distress: a qualitative study.

Background: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) has previously shown promise in effectively treating climate change-related distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate participants' experiences of undergoing a novel ICBT program targeting psychological symptoms associated with climate change.

Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted with nine participants who had received eight weeks of ICBT for climate change-related distress.

A CRISPR-Cas13b System Degrades SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 RNA In Vitro.

In a time of climate change, population growth, and globalization, the risk of viral spread has significantly increased. The 21st century has already witnessed outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS-CoV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Ebola virus and Influenza virus, among others. Viruses rapidly adapt and evade human immune systems, complicating the development of effective antiviral countermeasures.

Culturally and linguistically diverse children's retention of spoken narratives encoded in quiet and in babble noise.

Multi-talker noise impedes children's speech processing and may affect children listening to their second language more than children listening to their first language. Evidence suggests that multi-talker noise also may impede children's memory retention and learning. A total of 80 culturally and linguistically diverse children aged 7 to 9 years listened to narratives in two listening conditions: quiet and multi-talker noise (signal-to-noise ratio +6 dB).

Smartphone-based drug testing in the hands of patients with substance-use disorder-a usability study.

Aim: A clinical study was performed to test the usability of a smartphone eye-scanning app at a needle exchange facility to detect drug use to support therapy.

Methods: The study recruited 24 subjects who visited the facility one to three times, making a total of 40 visits. During each visit the subjects underwent testing for non-convergence (NC), nystagmus (NY), and pupillary light reflex (PLR) using a smartphone-based eHealth system.

Bivalent chromatin accommodates survivin and BRG1/SWI complex to activate DNA damage response in CD4 cells.

Background: Bivalent regions of chromatin (BvCR) are characterized by trimethylated lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) deposition which aid gene expression control during cell differentiation. The role of BvCR in post-transcriptional DNA damage response remains unidentified. Oncoprotein survivin binds chromatin and mediates IFNγ effects in CD4 cells.

Gösta Jönsson (1909-1978): A pioneer in the hormonal treatment of prostate cancer in Sweden.

Treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer is and has been a challenge. In 1957, the chemist Imre Könyves came to Sweden as a refugee from Hungary and started to work at AB Leo, a pharmaceutical company in Helsingborg. In 1961, he started to synthesize compounds where the oestrogens were linked to a mustard group by a carbamate.

A standard set of outcome measures for the comprehensive assessment of oral health and occlusion in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders of varying severity characterized by bone fragility. The primary objective of this international multidisciplinary collaboration initiative was to reach a consensus for a standardized set of clinician and patient-reported outcome measures, as well as associated measuring instruments for dental care of individuals with OI, based on the aspects considered important by both experts and patients. This project is a subsequent to the Key4OI project initiated by the Care4BrittleBones foundation which aims to develop a standard set of outcome measures covering a large domain of factors affecting quality of life for people with OI.

Insights into Activation Pathways of Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) from End-of-Life Tires (ELTs) by Potassium-Containing Agents.

This study explores the conversion of recovered carbon black (rCB) from end-of-life tires (ELTs) into activated carbons (ACs) using potassium-based activators, targeting enhanced textural properties development. The research focuses on the interaction between potassium and rCB, with the aim of understanding the underlying mechanisms of rCB activation. The study investigates several parameters of KOH activation, including the KOH/rCB mass ratio (1:3 to 1:6), activation temperatures (700-900 °C), activation time (1-4 h), and heating rate (5-13 °C/min).

Emydomyces testavorans Surveillance in Multiple Free-Ranging Terrestrial and Aquatic Chelonian Species in Illinois, USA.

The order Onygenales contains multiple fungal pathogens that affect free-ranging and zoo-housed reptilian species. Emydomyces testavorans, an onygenalean fungus associated with skin and shell disease, has been sporadically detected in aquatic chelonians. Because of the recent discovery of this organism, little is known about its prevalence in free-ranging chelonians.

Flame Characterization of Cofiring Gaseous and Solid Fuels in Suspensions.

This work characterizes technical scale flames of suspension firing of gaseous and solid fuel mixtures through in-flame measurements with focus on nitrogen oxide (NO) formation. The aims are to investigate the impacts of substituting a solid fuel with a gaseous fuel on the important mechanisms for NO formation and to highlight important considerations for burner design. The investigation was performed in a 100 kW test unit that fires mixtures of propane and lignite.

Can Urinary Bladder Innervation Be Restored After Outlet Obstruction and Denervation?

Transurethral resection of the prostate, or other methods to decrease outlet resistance usually leads to relief of symptoms in patients with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). If symptoms of underactivity persist after normalization of outflow conditions, treatment options are limited. In this review, we hypothesize, based on results from basic research, what might become treatment options for such patients in the future.

Skin sympathetic nerve activity in symptomatic and asymptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: The causes of symptoms in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to correlate the magnitudes of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) with symptoms in patients with AF.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF for ambulatory electrocardiography and SKNA recording.

Sympathetic toggled paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and recurrent premature atrial contractions in ambulatory patients.

Background: Autonomic nerve activity is important in the mechanisms of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a single burst of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) can toggle on and off PAF or premature atrial contraction (PAC) clusters.

Methods: Simultaneous recording of SKNA and electrocardiogram (neuECG) recording was performed over 7 days in patients with PAF.

Factors associated with development of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at onset and within three years after diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of diabetes retinopathy and evaluate the factors influencing its occurrence both at the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and three years into its duration.

Design: Retrospective population-based study.

Setting: Data was retrieved from Regional Healthcare Information Platform in Region Halland 2016-2020.

Reducing neonatal Fc receptor binding enhances clearance and brain-to-blood ratio of TfR-delivered bispecific amyloid-β antibody.

Recent development of amyloid-β (Aβ)-targeted immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) have highlighted the need for accurate diagnostic methods. Antibody-based positron emission tomography (PET) ligands are well suited for this purpose as they can be directed toward the same target as the therapeutic antibody. Bispecific, brain-penetrating antibodies can achieve sufficient brain concentrations, but their slow blood clearance remains a challenge, since it prolongs the time required to achieve a target-specific PET signal.

Promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of urine storage dysfunction: what's the status?

Introduction: Opinions differ on what drugs have both a rationale and a development potential for the treatment of bladder storage dysfunction.

Areas Covered: In the present review, the focus is given to small molecule blockers of TRP channels (TRPV1, TRPV4, TRPA1, and TRPM8), P2 × 3receptor antagonists, drugs against oxidative stress, antifibrosis agents, cyclic nucleotide - dependent pathways, and MaxiK±channel - gene therapy.

Expert Opinion: TRPV1 channel blockers produce hypothermia which seems to be a problem even with the most efficacious second-generation TRPV1 antagonists.

P53-Independent G1-Cell Cycle Arrest Increases SARS-CoV-2 RNA Replication.

While having already killed more than 7 million of people worldwide in 4 years, SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, is still circulating and evolving. Understanding the pathogenesis of the virus is of capital importance. It was shown that in vitro and in vivo infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to cell cycle arrest but the effect of the cell cycle arrest on the virus infection and the associated mechanisms are still unclear.