Modular self-emulsifying drug delivery platform to enhance cellular uptake activity in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents with resistance phenotypes to certain therapies, such as cisplatin, often requiring higher dosing, with associated acquired tumor resistance, renal toxicity, and variable patient responses. A self-emulsifying drug delivery (SEDD) formulation approach was proposed to overcome the limitations of cisplatin in TNBC, focusing on improving intracellular cisplatin and control siRNA uptake as a proof-of-principle of dual drug delivery. Four SEDD formulations were prepared and optimized for cisplatin (o/w) emulsion and FITC-siRNA (w/o) emulsion using pseudo-ternary phase diagrams to facilitate the formation of water-in-oil-water (w/o/w) emulsions.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2α Promotes Liver Fibrosis by Inducing Hepatocellular Death.

The activation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF)-1α and 2α in the liver is closely linked to the progression of fatty liver diseases. Prior studies indicated that disrupting hepatocyte HIF-2α attenuates diet-induced hepatic steatosis, subsequently decreasing fibrosis. However, the direct role of hepatocyte HIF-2α in liver fibrosis has not been addressed.

Characterization of Somatostatin Receptor 2 Gene Expression and Immune Landscape in Sinonasal Malignancies.

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), and sinonasal neuroendocrine carcinoma (SNEC) are rare malignancies arising from the sinonasal tract with limited therapeutic options. The expression of the somatostatin receptor 2 gene (), which is expressed in other neuroendocrine neoplasms and is therapeutically actionable, has been reported in these tumors. Here, we analyzed gene expression and its associations with genomic features, established biomarkers predicting of immune response, and the tumor immune microenvironment in a cohort of ONB, SNUC, and SNEC tumor samples (26, 13, and 8 samples, respectively) from a real-world database.

Clinical implementation of Nephrologist-led Genomic Testing for Glomerular Diseases in Singapore: Rationale and Protocol.

Introduction The early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of monogenic glomerular diseases can reduce kidney failure, avoid unnecessary investigations such as kidney biopsies and ineffective treatment with immunosuppressants, guide transplant decisions, and inform the genetic risks of their family members. Yet, genetic testing for kidney disease is under-utilized in Singapore. We aimed to implement a nephrologist-led genetic service and evaluate the acceptance, adoption, utility and cost-effectiveness of genetic testing for monogenic glomerular disease in Singapore.

Economic Evaluation of Total Knee Replacement Compared with Non-Surgical Management for Knee Osteoarthritis in India.

Objective: This study is an economic evaluation of total knee replacement (TKR) in comparison with non-surgical management in India.

Methods: Cost-utility analysis and budget impact analysis (BIA) were conducted on individuals aged ≥ 50 years with osteoarthritis of the knee (OA knee) Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2 and 3 using a provider's perspective. Three scenarios were considered, varying the age at which TKR is administered while assuming a 20-year lifespan for the implant.

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of 0.1% octenidine dihydrochloride, superoxidized solution, ozonated water, 0.1% silver nanoparticle solution, and Q mix™ 2 in 1 in root canals infected with .

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare and evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of 0.1% octenidine dihydrochloride, superoxidized solution, ozonated water, 0.1% silver nanoparticles (AgNp) solution, and Q mix™ 2 in 1 in root canals infected with .

Risk factors for Relative and Absolute Hypoglycemia in Patients Treated for Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome.

Glycemic management in the intensive care unit is an evolving practice area. This evolution has included the refinement of blood glucose targets, matching glycemic management to premorbid status, and investigations into the impact of glycemic variability and relative hypoglycemia on ICU outcomes. The interplay between these phenomena and absolute hypoglycemia has yet to be investigated in hyperglycemic emergencies.

Role of gene expression in colorectal cancer: a comprehensive molecular profiling study.

Background: In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), the therapeutic effects of conventional immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the adaptive immune system are largely limited to those with microsatellite instability-high tumors. Meanwhile, new immunotherapies targeting the innate immune system are attracting increasing attention. CD47 is a representative innate immune checkpoint involved in the evasion of tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages.

ERO1A levels are a prognostic indicator in EGFR mutated non small cell lung cancer.

We have identified endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1 alpha (ERO1A) as a poor prognostic indicator in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (EGFR-NSCLC). In addition, comparison of high versus low ERO1A expression among cohorts of EGFR-NSCLC primary samples revealed that ERO1A expression correlated with increased expression of proteins that regulate secretion. Using the CPTAC proteomic data set in lung adenocarcinoma we found that high ERO1A protein expression correlated with both extracellular matrix and matrix modifying enzymes.

Developing a Reproducible Radiomics Model for Diagnosis of Active Crohn's Disease on CT Enterography Across Annotation Variations and Acquisition Differences.

To systematically identify radiomics features on CT enterography (CTE) scans which can accurately diagnose active Crohn's disease across multiple sources of variation. Retrospective study of CTE scans curated between 2013 and 2015, comprising 164 subjects (65 male, 99 female; all patients were over the age of 18) with endoscopic confirmation for the presence or absence of active Crohn's disease. All patients had three distinct sets of scans available (full and reduced dose, where the latter had been reconstructed via two different methods), acquired on a single scanner at a single institution.

Epidemiological Study of Sleep Apnea Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in a Large Patient Population.

Background: Significant morbidity and death are linked to (SP), a prevalent sleep disease. For successful management, it is essential to comprehend its prevalence and the risk factors that are linked with it. The purpose of this study was to look at the prevalence of SP in a large patient group that was visiting a tertiary care facility and to discover risk variables that are connected with it.

Critical assessment of infants born to mothers with drug resistant tuberculosis.

Background: There have been no detailed descriptions of infants born to mothers treated for drug resistant TB in pregnancy. Critical case history assessment is important to identify risks and guide clinical practice.

Methods: In a cohort of pregnant women with multidrug or rifampicin resistant (MDR/RR)-TB enrolled between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2022, we followed mother-infant pairs until the infant was 12 months old.

Impact of a University-Led COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Program.

Context: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic devastated societies and economies worldwide. Given the major disruptions to higher education, reflection on university responses to the COVID-19 pandemic may provide insights for future outbreaks.

Objective: Here, we describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 on the Emory University campus during the 2020-2021 academic year and provide an evaluation of the performance of a university-led program with the purpose of describing the effectiveness of efforts to augment the public health authority's case investigation and contact tracing efforts during a public health emergency.

Molecular profiling METex14+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Impact of histology.

Objectives: MET exon 14 skipping alterations (METex14+) represent a heterogeneous subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with distinct biological and genomic features. We characterized this heterogeneity in a large cohort, integrating genomic and transcriptomic profiling with clinical outcomes, to elucidate the histologic and molecular traits and survival patterns of METex14+ NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: NSCLC tissue samples (n = 28,739) underwent DNA-based next-generation sequencing (592 genes, NextSeq) or whole-exome sequencing (NovaSeq), RNA-sequencing including whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS, NovaSeq), and PD-L1 IHC (Dako 22C3) at Caris Life Sciences.

The impact of COVID-19 national lockdowns on drug-resistant tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A spatial analysis.

Purpose: We sought to understand the impact of the initial COVID-19 mitigation strategies in 2020 on drug-resistant (DR) TB diagnoses in KwaZulu-Natal province (KZN), South Africa.

Methods: We compared the number, spatial distribution, and characteristics of DR TB diagnoses before and after the initial COVID-19 lockdown on March 26th, 2020. Information on DR TB diagnoses was collected from the CONTEXT prospective cohort study and municipality characteristics were collected from Statistics South Africa.

Amphiphilic Heparinoids as Potent Antiviral Agents against SARS-CoV-2.

Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of heparinoid amphiphiles as inhibitors of heparanase and SARS-CoV-2. By employing a tailor-made synthetic strategy, a library of highly sulfated homo-oligosaccharides bearing d-glucose or a C5-epimer (i.e.

Violence in the emergency department: a quantitative survey study of healthcare providers in India.

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) in Emergency Departments (EDs) is an increasingly recognized challenge healthcare providers face in low-resource settings. While studies have highlighted the increased prevalence of WPV in healthcare, most of the existing research has been conducted in developed countries with established laws and repercussions for violence against healthcare providers. More data on WPV against ED providers practicing in low-resource settings is necessary to understand these providers' unique challenges.

Genomic and Phenotypic Safety Assessment of Probiotic Bacillus coagulans Strain JBI-YZ6.3.

Spore-forming Bacillus coagulans has been widely recognized as an important probiotic, which is commonly used in products for human consumption and animal feeds. B. coagulans exhibits beneficial traits from both Bacillus and lactic acid-producing Lactobacillus.

In Vitro Cell Culture Model for Osteoclast Activation during Estrogen Withdrawal.

Estrogen (17β-estradiol) deficiency post-menopause alters bone homeostasis whereby bone resorption by osteoclasts exceeds bone formation by osteoblasts, leading to osteoporosis in females. We established an in vitro model to examine the consequences of estrogen withdrawal (E2-WD) on osteoclasts derived from the mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line and utilized it to investigate the mechanism behind the enhanced osteoclast activity post-menopause.

Evaluation of pre-heated composite resins with soft-start polymerization and conventional composite restorations in class-I carious lesions - A randomized clinical trial.

Background: By increasing fluidity and conversion, pre-heated composites enhance adaptability and strength, while soft-start polymerization decreases internal stresses.

Aim: Over a period of a year, this split-mouth design, randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) compared pre-heated composites with soft-start polymerization to conventional composites in class-I lesions, with the goal of improving restoration outcomes.

Methods: and Findings: Immediately following ethical approval and registration with CTRI, 37 patients with in-formed permission who met specified inclusion and exclusion criteria for class-I lesions were chosen for enrollment.

Radiomics to Detect Inflammation and Fibrosis on Magnetic Resonance Enterography in Stricturing Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aims: Non-invasive cross-sectional imaging via magnetic resonance enterography [MRE] offers excellent accuracy for the diagnosis of stricturing complications in Crohn's disease [CD] but is limited in determining the degrees of fibrosis and inflammation within a stricture. We developed and validated a radiomics-based machine-learning model for separately characterizing the degree of histopathological inflammation and fibrosis in CD strictures and compared it to centrally read visual radiologist scoring of MRE.

Methods: This single-centre, cross-sectional study included 51 CD patients [n = 34 for discovery; n = 17 for validation] with terminal ileal strictures confirmed on diagnostic MRE within 15 weeks of resection.

An Unusual Presentation of Membranous Nephropathy in an Adult With Arthrogryposis: A Case Report.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune condition that is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in nondiabetic adults. In this study, we highlight a case of a 22-year-old male with a past medical history of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) who initially presented with right flank pain and hematuria. Subsequent workup revealed significant proteinuria with biopsy-proven primary MN.

Integrating Perspectives on Family Caregiving After Critical Illness: A Qualitative Content Analysis.

Background: To date, no intervention has definitively improved outcomes for families of critical illness survivors. An integrated perspective on caregivers' needs after critical illness could help identify high-priority intervention targets and improve outcomes.

Objectives: To obtain diverse perspectives on the needs, barriers and facilitators, and social determinants of health associated with family caregiving across the critical illness continuum and assess the extent to which successful caregiving interventions in other populations may be adapted to the critical illness context.