Identification of novel small molecule-based strategies of COL7A1 upregulation and readthrough activity for the treatment of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a rare genetic disease caused by loss of function mutations in the gene coding for collagen VII (C7) due to deficient or absent C7 expression. This disrupts structural and functional skin architecture, leading to blistering, chronic wounds, inflammation, important systemic symptoms affecting the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, cornea, and kidney function, and an increased skin cancer risk. RDEB patients have an extremely poor quality of life and often die at an early age.

More isn't always better: antibiotic duration after surgical decortication in pleural empyema.

Background: While ample high-level evidence supports the limited use of antibiotics post-source control in intraabdominal infections, there is a paucity of available data in guiding antibiotic duration for intrathoracic infections. This study aims to analyze patient outcomes among those who have undergone surgical decortication for parapneumonic pleural empyema, comparing cases managed with infectious disease (ID) specialists against those without, and to identify predictive factors influencing antibiotic duration post-source control. We hypothesized that antibiotic duration would vary depending on the involvement of ID specialists.

Chest neck anastomotic leak post esophagectomy for malignancy: rate, predictors, and outcomes.

Background: Anastomotic leak is a major contributor to comorbidity and mortality following esophagectomy. We sought to assess rate and predictors of leak after esophagectomy and compare outcomes of chest versus neck anastomotic leaks.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed utilizing National-Surgical-Quality-Improvement-Program data from 2016-2019 for patients undergoing esophagectomy for malignancy.

Synthesis of symmetric bis-α-ketoamides from renewable starting materials and comparative study of their nucleating efficiency in PLLA.

An efficient and smart synthesis of bis-α-ketoamides has been disclosed. The desired products have been obtained through a Passerini multicomponent reaction using biobased aldehydes, acetic acid and bis-isocyanides (prepared from the corresponding biobased diamides), followed by a deprotection/oxidation step. The effect of the synthesized compounds on the crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in non-isothermal conditions.