PAD inhibition downregulates the cellular fibrotic behavior of senescent myofibroblasts derived from dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by enlarged, weakened heart ventricles due to chronic fibrosis. Dysfunctional senescent myofibroblasts and excessive citrullination have been implicated in fibrotic diseases. Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are involved in the citrullination of ECM proteins.

CRISPR/Cas13a-mediated visual detection: A rapid and robust method for early detection of Nosema bombycis in silkworms.

The sericulture industry faces a significant threat from the Pebrine disease of silkworms, caused by Nosema bombycis. Nonetheless, the current microscopic diagnostic methods can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and lacking sensitivity and accuracy. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a novel detection approach that is efficient, highly sensitive, and low-cost.

The seventh blind test of crystal structure prediction: structure generation methods.

A seventh blind test of crystal structure prediction was organized by the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre featuring seven target systems of varying complexity: a silicon and iodine-containing molecule, a copper coordination complex, a near-rigid molecule, a cocrystal, a polymorphic small agrochemical, a highly flexible polymorphic drug candidate, and a polymorphic morpholine salt. In this first of two parts focusing on structure generation methods, many crystal structure prediction (CSP) methods performed well for the small but flexible agrochemical compound, successfully reproducing the experimentally observed crystal structures, while few groups were successful for the systems of higher complexity. A powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) assisted exercise demonstrated the use of CSP in successfully determining a crystal structure from a low-quality PXRD pattern.

Increase in colonic PRopionate as a method of prEVENTing weight gain over 12 months in adults aged 20-40 years (iPREVENT): a multi-centre, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group trial.

Background: Obesity drives metabolic disease development. Preventing weight gain during early adulthood could mitigate later-life chronic disease risk. Increased dietary fibre intake, leading to enhanced colonic microbial fermentation and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, is associated with lower body weight.

Adverse Events Associated With 3 Vitrectomy Platforms Reported to the US FDA MAUDE Database.

To identify and describe adverse events (AEs) observed with real-world use of the following 3 vitrectomy platforms: Constellation (Alcon), Enhancing Visual Acuity (EVA, Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center), and Stellaris (Bausch + Lomb). All reports submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database between January 2010 and November 2021 that were associated with the 3 vitrectomy platforms were analyzed. Each report was reviewed for AEs or consequences and the type of complication noted.

Impact of Flood on Breastfeeding Practices at Flood Relief Camps of Pakistan.

Objective: To explore impact of flood on breastfeeding practices and identify barriers in continuation of breastfeeding among mothers residing in flood relief camps.

Methods: This exploratory observational study was conducted during visit of medical team of The University of Child Health Sciences, Children's Hospital at flood relief camps of Sindh (7 September to 12 September, 2022) and south-west of Punjab province (18 November to 20 November, 2022). The data was collected on structured questionnaire from 40 lactating mothers residing in flood relief camps.

Association Between Tea Drinking and Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study From the Mekran Division, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Background: Anemia in females of the reproductive age group is an area of concern globally, but its prevalence is high in developing countries. Dietary habits and lifestyle impact the hematological parameters. It is important to evaluate the impact of tea drinking on hematological parameters in females of the reproductive age group.

Engineering Insights into Tailored Metal-Organic Frameworks for CO Capture in Industrial Processes.

Despite the known impacts on climate change of carbon dioxide emissions, the continued use of fossil fuels for energy generation leading to the emission of carbon dioxide (CO) into the atmosphere is evident. Therefore, innovation to address and reduce CO emissions from industrial operations remains an urgent and crucial priority. A viable strategy in the area is postcombustion capture mainly through absorption by aqueous alkanolamines, which focuses on the separation of CO from flue gas, despite its limitations.

Cardioembolic stroke in an HIV endemic region: underdiagnosed and severe.

Background And Objectives: Cardioembolic stroke (CES) appears to be a rare cause of stroke (4%-9%) in people living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, due to limited access to diagnostic resources, this may be an underestimate. It is also unclear which cardiac pathologies are the major contributors to CES in this region.

Value for money of reusable versus disposable ophthalmic instruments for intravitreal injections.

Aim: The aim of this study was to follow the instruments' pathways and cost each segment to calculate whether reusable or disposable ophthalmic instruments offer better value for money for intravitreal injections.

Methods: The cycles and costs of reusable and single-use disposable instruments used for intravitreal injections were mapped out, including purchase costs, transport to and from the place of use, opening and disposal, sterilisation, replacement, salary costs of staff involved, etc. results: The cost of using reusable instruments for intravitreal injections (NZ$29.

Risk factors associated with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09: a nested case control study of TB patients with ILI in Lahore District, Pakistan.

Background: Co-morbidity with respiratory viruses including influenza A, cause varying degree of morbidity especially in TB patients compared to general population. This study estimates the risk factors associated with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 in TB patients with ILI.

Methods: A cohort of tuberculosis (TB) patients who were admitted to and enrolled in a TB Directly Observed Therapy Program (DOTs) in tertiary care hospitals of Lahore (Mayo Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital) were followed for 12 weeks.

Effectiveness of an ultrasound basic cancer training program through on-site training and virtual case discussions in rural Tanzania: a proof-of-concept study.

Introduction: Cancer rates are rising in low- and middle-income countries. While point-of-care ultrasound is now available globally and could serve to mitigate against this rise, its use in diagnosing cancers is inconsistent in lower-resourced healthcare contexts. This proof-of-concept study investigates the feasibility of an ultrasound training concept in a low-resource setting.

Exploring the inhibitory potential of phytochemicals from Vernonia glaberrima leaves against snake venom toxins through computational simulation and experimental validation.

Phospholipase A (PLA) is an enzyme present in appreciable quantity in snake venoms which catalyze the hydrolysis of glycerophospholipids at sn-2 position and promote the release of lysophospholipids and fatty acids. 5-methylcoumarin-4-β-glucoside (5MC4BG) and lupeol were previously isolated from the leaves of V. glaberrima.

Conservation tillage: a way to improve yield and soil properties and decrease global warming potential in spring wheat agroecosystems.

Climate change is one of the main challenges, and it poses a tough challenge to the agriculture industry globally. Additionally, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the main contributor to climate change; however, croplands are a prominent source of GHG emissions. Yet this complex challenge can be mitigated through climate-smart agricultural practices.

Machine-learning-based integrative -'omics analyses reveal immunologic and metabolic dysregulation in environmental enteric dysfunction.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical enteropathy challenging to diagnose due to an overlap of tissue features with other inflammatory enteropathies. EED subjects ( = 52) from Pakistan, controls ( = 25), and a validation EED cohort ( = 30) from Zambia were used to develop a machine-learning-based image analysis classification model. We extracted histologic feature representations from the Pakistan EED model and correlated them to transcriptomics and clinical biomarkers.

Efficacy of intrathecal mesenchymal stem cell-neural progenitor therapy in progressive MS: results from a phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cell-neural progenitors (MSC-NPs) are a bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived ex vivo manipulated cell product with therapeutic potential in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to determine efficacy of intrathecal (IT) MSC-NP treatment in patients with progressive MS.

Methods: The study is a phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a compassionate crossover design conducted at a single site.

Geochemical insights of arsenic mobilization into the aquifers of Punjab, Pakistan.

It is well known that groundwater arsenic (As) contamination affects million(s) of people throughout the Indus flood plain, Pakistan. In this study, groundwater (n = 96) and drilled borehole samples (n = 87 sediments of 12 boreholes) were collected to investigate geochemical proxy-indicators for As release into groundwater across floodplains of the Indus Basin. The mean dissolved (μg/L) and sedimentary As concentrations (mg/kg) showed significant association in all studied areas viz.

A pilot study to address the mental health of persons living with lymphatic filariasis in Léogâne, Haiti: Implementing a chronic disease self-management program using a stepped-wedge cluster design.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) inflict significant comorbid disability on the most vulnerable communities; yet interventions targeting the mental health of affected communities are lacking. A pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) was introduced to lymphatic filariasis peer support groups in Léogâne, Haiti.

Methods: Using a closed-cohort stepped-wedge cluster trial design, Hope Clubs were assigned into Arm 1 (n=118 members) and Arm 2 (n=92).

Epidural anesthesia causes outbreak of mycotic aneurysms: complications of meningitis.

Background: A health advisory was issued in response to a fungal meningitis outbreak linked to epidural anesthesia exposure in two plastic surgery clinics in Mexico, from January 1 to May 13, 2023. This descriptive analysis describes the neuroendovascular and neurosurgical observations and management of patients treated at a single stroke center located along the US-Mexico Border.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of fungal meningitis patients presenting between April and July 2023.

Stroke, HIV and the Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in the absence of opportunistic infections.

Introduction: Stroke in people living with HIV (PLWH) has been described to occur soon after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) possibly related to the Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS). We sought to investigate whether there was a temporal association between stroke and recent ART initiation in the absence of opportunistic infections (OIs), and to identify risk factors for this.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited PLWH with new-onset stroke at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 2014 to 2017, excluding all patients with OIs.

Long-term clinical and socioeconomic outcomes of children with biliary atresia.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is rare liver disease of unknown etiology, and is a major indication for liver transplant (LT). Previous data indicate improved outcomes with early referral for Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE).

Objective: Evaluate the long-term outcomes in BA, with particular focus on those transitioned to adult care with native livers.

Prevalence and risk estimates of Cryptosporidium oocysts infection associated with consumption of raw-eaten vegetables in Maiduguri metropolis LGAs, Northeast Nigeria.

Cryptosporidium is one of the most important protozoan parasitic pathogens, and it is a common cause of diarrhoea in humans, domestic animals, and wild vertebrates and has serious public health threats. A cross-sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in raw-eaten vegetables in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Areas (LGAs). A total of 400 samples were collected from four (4) different locations, namely Tashan Bama, Gomboru, and Monday Markets (n = 100), while fifty (n = 50) each from 202-Vegetable-Vendors and Unimaid Commercials.