Rare host variants in ciliary expressed genes contribute to COVID-19 severity in Bulgarian patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a pneumonia with extremely heterogeneous clinical presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to severely ill patients. Previous studies have reported links between the presence of host genetic variants and the outcome of the COVID-19 infection. In our study, we used whole exome sequencing in a cohort of 444 SARS-CoV-2 patients, admitted to hospital in the period October-2020-April-2022, to search for associations between rare pathogenic/potentially pathogenic variants and COVID-19 progression.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Ammonium Nitrate Using Al Structures, Fabricated by Laser Processing of AlN Ceramic.

This work presents results on laser-induced surface structuring of AlN ceramic and its application in Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The laser processing is performed by nanosecond pulses in air and vacuum. Depending on the processing conditions, different surface morphology can be obtained.

Unlocking the Value: Quantifying the Return on Investment of Hospital Artificial Intelligence.

Purpose: A comprehensive return on investment (ROI) calculator was developed to evaluate the monetary and nonmonetary benefits of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered radiology diagnostic imaging platform to inform decision makers interested in adopting AI.

Methods: A calculator was constructed to calculate comparative costs, estimated revenues, and quantify the clinical value of using an AI platform compared with no use of AI in radiology workflows of a US hospital over a 5-year time horizon. Parameters were determined on the basis of expert interviews and a literature review.

Impact of single-pill combinations versus free-equivalent combinations on adherence and persistence in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Hypertension is a leading cause of death and disease burden followed by dyslipidemia. Their asymptomatic nature leads to low adherence and persistence to treatments. A systematic literature review (SLR) investigated the impact of single-pill-combinations (SPC) compared to free-equivalent combination (FEC) on adherence, persistence, clinical outcomes, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and patient-reported outcomes, in patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or both.

Impact of poor medication adherence on clinical outcomes and health resource utilization in patients with hypertension and/or dyslipidemia: systematic review.

Introduction: We aimed to summarize evidence on the effect of poor medication adherence on clinical outcomes and health resource utilization (HRU) among patients with hypertension and/or dyslipidemia.

Areas Covered: A systematic review of studies reporting clinical outcomes and HRU for patients by status of adherence to antihypertensives and/or lipid-lowering medications was searched using Embase, MEDLINE, and MEDLINE In-Process and supplemented by manual searches of conference abstracts. In total, 45 studies were included, with most being retrospective observational studies ( = 36).

Picosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition of Metals and Metal Oxides.

In this work, we present the fabrication of thin films/nanostructures of metals and metal oxides using picosecond laser ablation. Two sets of experiments were performed: the depositions were carried out in vacuum and in air at atmospheric pressure. The subjects of investigation were the noble metals Au and Pt and the metal oxides ZnO and TiO.

Risk Factors for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review and Expert Consensus.

Objective: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review of studies focusing on adult patients classified as having SLE-related PAH by searching the electronic databases Embase, Medline, Medline in-progress, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Ichushi Web, Kmbase, and KoreaMed. Based on the findings, we conducted a Delphi survey to build expert consensus on issues related to screening for PAH in patients with SLE and on the importance and feasibility of measuring the identified factors in clinical practice.

Access to innovative drugs and the National Reimbursement Drug List in China: Changing dynamics and future trends in pricing and reimbursement.

Background And Objectives: Multiple reforms aimed at improving the Chinese population's health have been introduced in recent years, including several designed to improve access to innovative drugs. We sought to review current factors affecting access to innovative drugs in China and to anticipate future trends.

Methods: Targeted reviews of published literature and statistics on the Chinese healthcare system, medical insurance and reimbursement processes were conducted, as well as interviews with five Chinese experts involved in the reimbursement of innovative drugs.

Targeted Literature Review of the Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Infection among High-Risk and Elderly Patients in Asia Pacific Region.

Introduction: The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes acute respiratory illness, is well recognized among the pediatric population but also imposes a significant risk to the elderly (age ≥ 60) and those with underlying comorbidities. The study aimed to review the most recent data on epidemiology and burden (clinical and economic) of RSV in the elderly/high-risk populations in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia.

Methods: A targeted review was conducted of English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language articles published from 1 January 2010 to 7 October 2020 relevant for the purpose.

Safety and Efficacy of Vidofludimus Calcium in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial.

Introduction: Vidofludimus calcium has shown anti-inflammatory effects in clinical trials of autoimmune diseases and recently demonstrated antiviral activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vidofludimus calcium in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Europe and the USA.

Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older who positive for COVID-19 were randomized (1:1) to receive placebo or 45 mg vidofludimus calcium for 14 days with both groups receiving standard-of-care treatment.

Economic Burden of COVID-19: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To review and qualitatively synthesize the evidence related to the economic burden of COVID-19, including healthcare resource utilization and costs.

Methods: A systematic review of studies that assessed the economic burden [eg, direct costs, productivity, macroeconomic impact due to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and equity] of COVID-19 was conducted by searches in EMBASE, MEDLINE, MEDLINE-IN-PROCESS, and The Cochrane Library, as well as manual searches of unpublished research for the period between January 2020 to February 2021. Single reviewer data extraction was confirmed independently by a second reviewer.

P016 Impact of Non-Remission on Health-Related Quality of Life and Patient Reported Outcomes in Patients With Crohn's Disease: Targeted Literature Review.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) leads to chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that significantly impacts patients over an entire lifetime. The decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may have an impact on patient's level of functioning, work productivity, and other activities. The goal of treatment for CD is clinical remission based on clinical, endoscopic, and biological parameters.

New Approach toward Laser-Assisted Modification of Biocompatible Polymers Relevant to Neural Interfacing Technologies.

We report on a new approach toward a laser-assisted modification of biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers relevant to the fabrication of stretchable multielectrode arrays (MEAs) devices for neural interfacing technologies. These applications require high-density electrode packaging to provide a high-resolution integrating system for neural stimulation and/or recording. Medical grade PDMS elastomers are highly flexible with low Young's modulus < 1 MPa, which are similar to soft tissue (nerve, brain, muscles) among the other known biopolymers, and can easily adjust to the soft tissue curvatures.

Burden of disease and costs associated with type 2 diabetes in emerging and established markets: systematic review analyses.

To estimate the clinical and economic burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in established (EST) and emerging markets (EMG). Three systematic literature reviews were conducted in MEDLINE and Embase to capture all relevant publications reporting 1) the epidemiology of T2D and complications in T2D and 2) the economic burden of T2D and associated complications. In total, 294 studies were included in this analysis.

Wisdom of the expert crowd prediction of response for 3 neurology randomized trials.

Objective: To explore the accuracy of combined neurology expert forecasts in predicting primary endpoints for trials.

Methods: We identified one major randomized trial each in stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that was closing within 6 months. After recruiting a sample of neurology experts for each disease, we elicited forecasts for the primary endpoint outcomes in the trial placebo and treatment arms.

Indirect costs associated with ulcerative colitis: a systematic literature review of real-world data.

Background: The economic burden of ulcerative colitis (UC), specifically related to indirect costs, is not extensively documented. Understanding and quantifying it is required by health care decision makers.

Aim: To assess the impact of indirect costs of UC in observation studies.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Thiacloprid Assisted by Silver and Gold Nanostructures.

This study expresses our results on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analyses of neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid, i.e., Calypso 480 SC, in quantities much smaller than usually applied in the agricultural medicine.

Dose escalation and switching of biologics in ulcerative colitis: a systematic literature review in real-world evidence.

Biologics used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) may lose their effect over time, requiring patients to undergo dose escalation or treatment switching, and systematic literature reviews of real-world evidence on these topics are lacking. To summarize the occurrence and outcomes of dose escalation and treatment switching in UC patients in real-world evidence. Studies were searched through MEDLINE, MEDLINE IN PROCESS, Embase and Cochrane (2006-2017) as well as proceedings from three major scientific meetings.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir hepatitis C treatment in a single centre in Germany.

Background: Newer direct-acting antiviral therapies are increasingly becoming the therapy of choice in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here, we report the safety and effectiveness of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in real-world cohorts in Germany.

Methods: Patients initiated on SOF/VEL 12 weeks or LDV/SOF 8, 12 or 24 weeks regimens in a single German centre were included in this study.

The burden of pertussis in older adults: what is the role of vaccination? A systematic literature review.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a vaccine-preventable disease; however, neither natural- nor vaccine-induced protection is life-long. Although generally not severe in adults, pertussis can be associated with complications in patients with chronic conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and can be readily transmitted to more vulnerable populations, including neonates before they complete their primary vaccination. Furthermore, as the global population ages, the health and economic burden of the disease is expected to rise.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) of Mancozeb and Thiamethoxam Assisted by Gold and Silver Nanostructures Produced by Laser Techniques on Paper.

Advanced gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanostructures were produced by laser techniques on printer paper substrate. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analyses of the fungicide mancozeb (Dithane DG) and insecticide thiamethoxam (Aktara 25 BG) in quantities smaller than usually applied in agricultural medicine were performed for the first time assisted by the structures fabricated. The investigations and results show an easy alternative and cheap way to detect small amounts or residue of harmful environmental pollutants, which has a direct bearing on food quality and thus on human health.

Au nanostructure fabrication by pulsed laser deposition in open air: Influence of the deposition geometry.

We present a fast and flexible method for the fabrication of Au nanocolumns. Au nanostructures were produced by pulsed laser deposition in air at atmospheric pressure. No impurities or Au compounds were detected in the resulting samples.

Resource use associated with type 2 diabetes in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Eurasia and Turkey: results from the International Diabetes Management Practice Study (IDMPS).

Objective: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications form a global healthcare burden but the exact impact in some geographical regions is still not well documented. We describe the healthcare resource usage (HRU) associated with T2D in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Eurasia and Turkey.

Research Design And Methods: In the fifth wave of the International Diabetes Management Practices Study (IDMPS; 2011-2012), we collected self-reported and physician-reported cross-sectional data from 8156 patients from 18 countries across 5 regions, including different types of HRU in the previous 3-6 months.