Objectives: Predicting longer term response to biological therapy for small bowel Crohn's disease (SBCD) is an unmet clinical need. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) may indicate disease activity, but its predictive ability, if any, is unknown. We investigated the prognostic value of DWI for one year response or remission (RoR) in SBCD patients commencing biologic therapy, including incremental value over C-reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin (FC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including tirzepatide (Mounjaro), are widely used to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. While gastrointestinal side effects are common, acute pancreatitis remains a rare but significant complication. Limited evidence exists on the risks associated with switching between GLP-1 agonists, emphasizing the need for clinical awareness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has long been associated with exposure to tobacco smoke and alcohol consumption. Some centres have reported that non-smoking non-drinking (NSND) patients represent a significant and increasing proportion of OSCC cases with reports of poorer outcomes. Demographic characteristics are variably reported for this group and carcinogenesis is not fully understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe field of nanopore sensing is now moving beyond nucleic acid sequencing. An exciting avenue is the use of nanopore platforms for the monitoring of biochemical reactions. Biological nanopores have been used for this application, but solid-state nanopore approaches have lagged.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAir pollution is associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions. While animal models have increased our understanding of how air pollution contributes to brain pathologies - including through oxidative stress, inflammatory, and stress hormone pathways - investigation of underlying mechanisms remains limited due to a lack of human-relevant models that incorporate systemic processes. Our objective was to establish an ex vivo approach that enables assessment of the roles of plasma mediators in pollutant-induced effects in the brain.
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