The Impairment Argument's Coup de Grâce.

According to Hendricks Impairment Argument (IA), abortion is immoral because it impairs the fetus. Here, I argue it is not sufficient to show merely that abortion impairs, Hendricks must show that it harms the fetus. If the fetus is not numerically identical to the person it will become, then it isn't harmed by an abortion.

The Influence of Photographic Representations on U.S. Medical Students' Attitudes and Beliefs About Persons With Disabilities: A Qualitative Study.

There is a crucial need to more deeply understand the impact and etiology of bias toward persons with developmental disabilities (PWDD). A largely unstudied area of concern and possible intervention is the portrayal of PWDD in medical education. Often, medical photographs portray PWDD with obscured faces, emotionless, and posed in an undignified way.

Biodegradable composite films of barley fibers for food packaging applications: A review.

Conventional food packaging is creating a significant cause of environmental hazards, posing challenges in disposal and recycling. Lignocellulose fibers possess remarkable biodegradable properties and can be modified or blended with other polymers. Thus, using lignocellulose biocomposite films derived from barley, a renewable source can mitigate and potentially transform into sustainable, innovative packaging material in the food sectors.

Pathways to care for psychosis in rural Uganda: Mixed-methods study of individuals with psychosis, family members, and local leaders.

Background: Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionate burden of mental illness, with limited access to biomedical care. This study examined pathways to care for psychosis in rural Uganda, exploring factors influencing treatment choices.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study in Buyende District, Uganda, involving 67 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions (data collection continued until thematic saturation was reached) with individuals with psychotic disorders, family members, and local leaders.

Prevalence and predictors of poor heart failure treatment outcomes in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Various factors can exacerbate disease progression in patients with HF and negatively impact treatment outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the pooled prevalence and contributing factors associated with poor heart failure treatment outcomes in Ethiopia.

Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic: identifying hesitant groups and exploring reasons for vaccination hesitancy, from adolescence to late adulthood.

Introduction: The COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease-2019) pandemic highlighted the importance of assessing the rationales behind vaccine hesitancy for the containment of pandemics. In this nationwide study, representative of the Luxembourgish population, we identified hesitant groups from adolescence to late adulthood and explored motivations both for and against vaccination.

Methods: We combined data collected via online surveys for the CON-VINCE (COvid-19 National survey for assessing VIral spread by Non-affected CarriErs) study, 1865 respondents aged 18-84, and for the YAC (Young people And Covid-19) study, 3740 respondents aged 12-29.

Contrast sensitivity before and after refractive error correction among refractive error patients in Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia 2023.

Background: Contrast sensitivity is an important measure of vision quality. Risk of falling injury is strongly associated with poor contrast sensitivity compared with poor near- and distance visual acuity. Since good visual acuity is not necessarily associated with good visual performance in the "real world" it is important to consider contrast sensitivity when prescribing corrective lenses.

DT-13 Mediates Ligand-Dependent Activation of PPARγ Response Elements In Vitro.

Activation of inflammatory pathways releases a storm of cytokines. Moreover, unregulated cytokines contribute to chronic inflammatory disorders. However, ligand-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is involved in suppressing inflammatory cytokines via transrepression of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB).

Spatial tumor immune heterogeneity facilitates subtype co-existence and therapy response in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) displays a high degree of spatial subtype heterogeneity and co-existence, linked to a diverse microenvironment and worse clinical outcome. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, by combining preclinical models, multi-center clinical, transcriptomic, proteomic, and patient bioimaging data, we identify an interplay between neoplastic intrinsic AP1 transcription factor dichotomy and extrinsic macrophages driving subtype co-existence and an immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Transcaval embolisation of type-II endoleaks - The Australian experience.

Objectives: Embolizing an abdominal aortic aneurysm sac through a transcaval approach is a novel approach to treat type-II endoleaks that occur following aortic endografting. This study reviews the outcomes of this treatment in one of the few centres in Australia that offers this procedure.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including patients who had received transcaval embolisation of type-II endoleak over a 9-year period.

Factors associated with the dental service utilization by enrollees on the Lagos State health insurance scheme, Nigeria.

Background: Despite assumptions that insurance coverage would boost oral healthcare utilization in Nigeria, there is insufficient evidence supporting this claim. This study investigates the associations between residential location, awareness of the oral health insurance scheme, history of dental service utilization, and acceptance of oral health insurance among individuals benefiting from the Ilera Eko Scheme; a scheme that integrates preventive and curative oral health care into the state health insurance scheme.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to November 2023 recruiting from a database of 1520 enrollees aged of 18 and 72-years-old who had been on the scheme for at least three months.

Cerium(III) Phosphinate and Cerium(IV) Phosphostibonate Acting as Catalysts for Mild, Selective Sulfoxidation.

A Ce(III) phosphinate and a Ce(IV) phosphostibonate have been assembled by the reaction of a phosphinic acid and phosphostibonate with Ce(III) salts. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) studies reveal the formation of a rare triangular Ce(III) oxo-cluster [Ce(PhCHPO)]Cl(CHOH)(HO)] () and a fascinating hexanuclear oxo-cluster containing Ce(IV) ions [Ce (-ClCHSb)(μ-O)(μ-O)(-BuPO)(μ-OCH)] (). The molecular architecture of showcased an interesting correlation with platonic solids, wherein the Ce(IV), Sb(V), and P(V) ions were found to be present in vertices of an octahedron, a tetrahedron, and a cube, respectively.

E-portfolio in Learning and Assessment of Community Medicine for Medical Undergraduate Students.

Background: A portfolio is a specific collection of student work and achievements in various areas. E-portfolio is an electronic collection that serves the purpose of storage and showcase with the ease of access for both students and evaluators. The knowledge and skills regarding immunization in medical students are of utmost importance for the successful implementation and conduction of the Universal Immunization Program in the country.

Oral fluid testing can be used to monitor xenotransplant donor herds for porcine cytomegalovirus/roseolovirus status.

A major concern of xenotransplantation is that donor organs may be a source of pathogens. One pathogen in particular, porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), a porcine roseolovirus (PRV), is thought to result in donor organ failure in an immunosuppressed state. Porcine cytomegalovirus is difficult to detect in organ donor swine because of its ability to establish latency.

Hypoxic conditions affect transcriptome of endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis and promote TGFBI axis.

Background: Endometriosis is characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial-like cells, causing chronic pelvic pain, adhesions and impaired fertility in women of reproductive age. Usually, these lesions grow in the peritoneal cavity in a hypoxic environment. Hypoxia is known to affect gene expression and protein kinase (PK) activity.

The Informal, Non-Prescribed Use of Antiretroviral Medications for PrEP Among a National US-Based Sample of Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This brief report presents findings on informal, non-prescribed PrEP use among an online sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (n = 196). Mean age was 33.4.

Coordinated charging of EV fleets in community parking lots to maximize benefits using a three-stage energy management system.

The rapid global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) necessitates the development of advanced EV charging infrastructure to meet rising energy demands. In particular, community parking lots (CPLs) offer significant opportunities for coordinating EVs' charging. By integrating energy storage systems (ESSs), renewable energy sources (RESs), and building prosumers, substantial reductions in peak load and electricity costs can be achieved, while simultaneously promoting environmental sustainability.

The Surgical Odyssey: A Case Report on Rare Isolated Abdominal Wall Recurrence in an Adult Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumor.

A 50-year-old woman with a history of adult granulosa cell tumor (AGCT) of the right ovary was under follow-up after undergoing several surgeries, including a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. She was initially diagnosed eight years ago and remained disease-free for 52 months. However, she later experienced a recurrence, indicated by elevated inhibin B levels (58 ng/mL) and the presence of peritoneal soft tissue tumors.

Investigating the effects of stereotactic body radiation therapy on pancreatic tumor hypoxia and microvasculature in an orthotopic mouse model using intravital fluorescence microscopy.

Despite decades of improvements in cytotoxic therapy, the current standard of care for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) provides, on average, only a few months of survival benefit. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), a technique that accurately delivers high doses of radiation to tumors in fewer fractions, has emerged as a promising therapy to improve local control of LAPC; however, its effects on the tumor microenvironment and hypoxia remain poorly understood. To explore how SBRT affects pancreatic tumors, we combined an orthotopic mouse model of pancreatic cancer with an intravital microscopy platform to visualize changes to the in vivo tumor microenvironment in real-time.

A potential therapeutic role of resveratrol in mitigating hepatotoxicity induced by paracetamol and alcohol.

Background: Drug-induced hepatotoxicity, particularly from ethanol and acetaminophen (APAP), is a pressing global health challenge. This damage arises from oxidative stress and inflammation, manifesting as elevated liver enzymes and structural liver alterations. Resveratrol and silymarin, recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, offer potential hepatoprotective benefits.

International consensus to define outcomes for trials of chemoradiotherapy for anal cancer (CORMAC-2): defining the outcomes from the CORMAC core outcome set.

Variation in outcomes definitions and reporting limit the utility of clinical trial results. The Core Outcome Research Measures in Anal Cancer (CORMAC) project developed a core outcome set (COS) for chemoradiotherapy trials for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) through an international healthcare professional and patient consensus process. The CORMAC-COS comprises 19 outcomes across 4 domains (disease activity, survival, toxicity, life impact).

Pyrexia of Foreign Origin: Exploring the Impact of Travel History.

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in endemic regions of Africa, with being the most virulent species. This case report details the presentation of a 24-year-old Caucasian woman who collapsed at a train station in the United Kingdom after experiencing a week of fever, malaise, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms. At emergency care, she was initially resuscitated with intravenous fluids and antipyretics.

Exploring the Relationship Between Drivers' Stationary Gaze Entropy and Situation Awareness in a Level-3 Automation Driving Simulation.

The transition period from automation to manual, known as the takeover process, presents challenges for drivers due to the deficiency in collecting requisite contextual information. The current study collected drivers' eye movement in a simulated takeover experiment, and their Situation Awareness (SA) was assessed using the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) method. The drivers' Stationary Gaze Entropy (SGE) was calculated based on the percentages of time they spent on six pre-defined Areas of Interests (AOIs).

The Efficacy of Neuromodulation, Interventional Treatment and Unconventional Therapies in the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic debilitating multisystem neuropathic pain disorder. It is characterized by continuous pain, usually out of proportion to any known tissue injury, vasomotor changes, sudomotor or edema, and motor or trophic changes. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of neuromodulation, interventional, and unconventional treatments for CRPS.

What skills do adolescents and young adults desire as they prepare for adult health care?

Background: The transition from pediatric to adult care is a period associated with adverse health outcomes (e.g., health care dropout, health deterioration and poor adherence to management) for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic conditions and their caregivers.