A randomised crossover trial of daridorexant for the treatment of chronic insomnia and nocturia.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of daridorexant in patients with chronic insomnia and comorbid nocturia. In total, 60 patients aged ≥55 years with insomnia complaints for ≥3 months, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) ≥13 and ≥3 voids/night for ≥1 month were randomised (1:1) to daridorexant 50 mg/placebo for 4 weeks followed by crossover after a 14-21-day washout period. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to Week (W) 4 in self-reported total sleep time (sTST).

Reversal of Diabetic Dry Eye by Topical Opioid Receptor Blockade Follows Dual Pathways.

Purpose: To determine pathways in the trigeminal ganglion and corneal epithelium that are targeted by topical naltrexone (NTX) treatment for dry eye.

Methods: NTX drops were administered topically daily for 15 days to the corneal surface of male and female adult type 1 diabetic rats. Schirmer scores and corneal sensitivity were measured at baseline, 5, 10, and 15 days.

Neuroprotective Effects of VEGF-B in a Murine Model of Aggressive Neuronal Loss with Childhood Onset.

In recent decades, the scientific community has faced a major challenge in the search for new therapies that can slow down or alleviate the process of neuronal death that accompanies neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to identify an effective therapy using neurotrophic factors to delay the rapid and aggressive cerebellar degeneration experienced by the Purkinje Cell Degeneration (PCD) mouse, a model of childhood-onset neurodegeneration with cerebellar atrophy (CONDCA). Initially, we analyzed the changes in the expression of several neurotrophic factors related to the degenerative process itself, identifying changes in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B (VEGF-B) in the affected animals.

Catalytic evaluation of microwave-assisted copper cobaltite oxide (CuCoO) for propane oxidation.

Attainment of a pristine copper cobaltite (CuCoO) phase by a fast and easy microwave (MW) assisted method is presented in this paper. The successful synthesis was supported by a series of characterization techniques, which confirmed the presence of a single phase and a possible inverted spinel crystal structure. Furthermore, catalytic performance evaluation of CuCoO in propane oxidation demonstrated its selectivity towards carbon dioxide (CO) formation, with negligible propanol production.

Exploring gender stereotypes in financial reporting: An aspect-level sentiment analysis using big data and deep learning.

This study delves into the intricate interplay between gender stereotypes and financial reporting through an aspect-level sentiment analysis approach. Leveraging Big Data comprising 129,251 human face images extracted from 2085 financial reports in Chile, and employing Deep Learning techniques, we uncover the underlying factors influencing the representation of women in financial reports. Our findings reveal that gender stereotypes, combined with external economic factors, significantly shape the portrayal of women in financial reports, overshadowing intentional efforts by companies to influence stakeholder perceptions of financial performance.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Severe COVID-19: A Pilot Study at the Beginning of the Pandemic Outbreak in Southern Chile.

Unlabelled: Convalescent Plasma (CP) from patients who recovered from COVID-19 may present neutralizing antibodies against viral protein S of SARS-CoV-2 and emerged as a potential therapeutic alternative for patients with severe infection at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic breakout. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect and safety of CP treatment in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods: We designed a quasi-experimental study that included 156 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-qPCR and severe symptoms who received CP.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt Jakob disease: Case series in Peru.

Description Of The Cases: A series of 6 cases with a probable diagnosis of sporadic CJD, treated in a Peruvian national reference hospital, are presented.

Clinical Findings: The relevant clinical signs were rapidly progressive dementia and myoclonus, followed by akinetic mutism and pyramidal signs.

Treatment And Results: Of the cases presented, 80% were men, with an average age of presentation of 65 years and duration from diagnosis to death of 6.

Dual electro-/pH-responsive nanoparticle/hydrogel system for controlled delivery of anticancer peptide.

An electro-chemo-responsive carrier has been engineered for the controlled release of a highly hydrophilic anticancer peptide, CR(NMe)EKA (Cys-Arg- N-methyl-Glu-Lys-Ala). Remotely controlled on demand release of CR(NMe)EKA, loaded in electro-responsive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanoparticles, has been achieved by applying electrical stimuli consisting of constant positive (+0.50 V) or negative voltages (-0.

Development and Evaluation of PEG-gelatin-based Microparticles to Enhance the Oral Delivery of Insulin.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a global disease identified by hyperglycemia due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.

Objective: The main objective of this research was to evaluate the ability of gelatinized Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) microparticles to be used as carriers for oral insulin delivery via double emulsion preparation.

Methods: Five different batches of the formulation consisting of gelatin:PEG were prepared as follows: 0:1 (W1), 1:0 (W2), 1:1 (W3), 1:3 (W4), and 3:1 (W5).

Hydrogel composites based on chitosan and CuAuTiO photocatalysts for hydrogen production under simulated sunlight irradiation.

This study explored the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using novel biohydrogel composites comprising chitosan, and a photocatalyst consisting in TiO P25 decorated with Au and/or Cu mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) to boost its optical and catalytic properties. Low loads of Cu and Au (1 mol%) were incorporated onto TiO via a green photodeposition methodology. Characterization techniques confirmed the incorporation of decoration metals as well as improvements in the light absorption properties in the visible light interval (λ > 390 nm) and electron transfer capability of the semiconductors.

COVID-19 InfoVaccines: A WHO-supported educational project to promote COVID-19 vaccination information among professionals and the general population.

COVID-19 vaccine uptake varied across countries, in part due to vaccine hesitancy fueled by a lack of trustworthy information. To help health workers provide evidence-based answers to common questions about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination, and thereby, assist individuals´ decisions on vaccine acceptance, COVID-19 InfoVaccines, a joint WHO-EU project, was launched in February 2021 to support COVID-19 vaccine rollout in 6 Eastern European countries. COVID-19 InfoVaccines was made available in seven languages and shared on social media networks.

Does facial structure explain differences in student evaluations of teaching? The role of fWHR as a proxy for perceived dominance.

Dominance is usually viewed as a positive male attribute, but this is not typically the case for women. Using a novel dataset of student evaluations of teaching in a school of Business and Economics of a selective university, we construct the face width-to-height ratio (fWHR) as a proxy for perceived dominance to assess whether individuals with a higher ratio obtain better evaluations. Our results show that a higher fWHR is associated with a better evaluation for male faculty, while the opposite is the case for female faculty.

Common Oral Conditions: A Review.

Importance: Dry mouth, oral candidiasis, and recurrent aphthous ulcers are 3 of the most common oral conditions that may be associated with patient discomfort, decreased quality of life, and morbidity.

Observations: In a meta-analysis of 26 population-based cohort and cross-sectional studies, the global prevalence of dry mouth symptoms was 23% (95% CI, 18% to 28%), placing individuals at risk of oral candidiasis, dental caries, dysgeusia, masticatory/speech impairment, and oropharyngeal dysphagia. Dry mouth is associated with using more than 3 oral medications per day (odds ratio [OR], 2.

Occurrence of pvs. actinidiae, actinidifoliorum and Other Strains on Kiwifruit in Northern Spain.

pv. actinidiae (Psa), the agent causing bacterial canker of kiwifruit, has been present in the Principality of Asturias (PA), Northern Spain, since 2013, although with restricted distribution. In this study, 53 strains collected in kiwifruit orchards in PA during the period 2014-2020 were characterized by a polyphasic approach including biochemical and phylogenetic analysis.

Intracerebellar injection of monocytic immature myeloid cells prevents the adverse effects caused by stereotactic surgery in a model of cerebellar neurodegeneration.

Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) constitute a recently discovered bone-marrow-derived cell type useful for dealing with neuroinflammatory disorders. However, these cells are only formed during inflammatory conditions from immature myeloid cells (IMCs) that acquire immunosuppressive activity, thus being commonly gathered from diseased animals. Then, to obtain a more clinically feasible source, we characterized IMCs directly derived from healthy bone marrow and proved their potential immunosuppressive activity under pathological conditions in vitro.

Patients with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Display a Progressive Alteration over the Years of the Activation Stages of the T Lymphocyte Compartment.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious medical condition associated with severe morbidities and disability. Chronic SCI patients present an enhanced susceptibility to infections and comorbidities with inflammatory pathogenesis. Chronic SCI appears to be associated with a systemic dysfunction of the immune system.

Immunomodulation with AM3 and antioxidants creates an adequate framework for skin repair and decreases the monocyte proinflammatory stage in smoker women.

Smoking has been considering a crucial factor in promoting skin and systemic aging that is associated with the development of a low-level, systemic, chronic inflammation known as "inflammaging" in which monocytes play a pivotal role. Our aim was to investigate the effects of AM3 plus antioxidants vs placebo in the activation status, function of monocytes and cutaneous aging parameters in healthy smoker middle-aged women. A total of 32 women were 1:1 randomly assigned to AM3 plus antioxidants or placebo for three months.

Correlating structure and photophysical properties in thiazolo[5,4-]thiazole crystal derivatives for use in solid-state photonic and fluorescence-based optical devices.

There is a growing demand for new fluorescent small molecule dyes for solid state applications in the photonics and optoelectronics industry. Thiazolo[5,4-]thiazole (TTz) is an organic heterocycle moiety which has previously shown remarkable properties as a conjugated polymer and in solution-based studies. For TTz-based small molecules to be incorporated in solid-state fluorescence-based optical devices, a thorough elucidation of their structure-photophysical properties needs to be established.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish SABA Reliance Questionnaire (SRQ) among patients with asthma.

Background: Patient beliefs about their asthma and its treatment may contribute to overreliance on short-acting β-agonist (SABA) therapy, leading to increased risk for potentially life-threatening exacerbations. The SABA Reliance Questionnaire (SRQ) is a validated tool for evaluating patients beliefs about SABAs that may lead to overreliance and overuse.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the SRQ.

Ketone Bodies Induce Unique Inhibition of Tumor Cell Proliferation and Enhance the Efficacy of Anti-Cancer Agents.

The ketone bodies, sodium and lithium salts of acetoacetate (AcAc) and sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB; commonly called beta-hydroxybutyrate) have been found to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Previous studies have suggested that lithium itself may be an inhibiting agent but may be additive or synergistic with the effect of AcAc. We previously found that sodium acetoacetate (NaAcAc) inhibits the growth of human colon cancer cell line SW480.

Immunohistochemical distribution of secretagogin in the mouse brain.

Introduction: Calcium is essential for the correct functioning of the central nervous system, and calcium-binding proteins help to finely regulate its concentration. Whereas some calcium-binding proteins such as calmodulin are ubiquitous and are present in many cell types, others such as calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin are expressed in specific neuronal populations. Secretagogin belongs to this latter group and its distribution throughout the brain is only partially known.

Changes in physical function and physical activity in patients up to 5 years after bariatric surgery.

Background: Bariatric surgery is effective for patients with severe obesity, but relatively little is known about long-term functional outcomes.

Objective: To describe physical fitness and activity changes among bariatric surgery patients in a clinical trial of physical activity interventions through 5 years postoperatively.

Setting: Large bariatric center in the midwestern United States.