A Randomized Trial of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Moderate to Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome from COVID-19.

There are limited therapeutic options for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related acute respiratory distress syndrome with inflammation-mediated lung injury. Mesenchymal stromal cells offer promise as immunomodulatory agents. Evaluation of efficacy and safety of allogeneic mesenchymal cells in mechanically-ventilated patients with moderate or severe COVID-19-induced respiratory failure.

A High-Fat Diet Disrupts Nerve Lipids and Mitochondrial Function in Murine Models of Neuropathy.

As the prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to increase worldwide, accompanying complications are also on the rise. The most prevalent complication, peripheral neuropathy (PN), is a complex process which remains incompletely understood. Dyslipidemia is an emerging risk factor for PN in both prediabetes and T2D, suggesting that excess lipids damage peripheral nerves; however, the precise lipid changes that contribute to PN are unknown.

The incidence rate of planned and emergency physical health hospital admissions in people diagnosed with severe mental illness: a cohort study.

Background: People with severe mental illness (SMI) have more physical health conditions than the general population, resulting in higher rates of hospitalisations and mortality. In this study, we aimed to determine the rate of emergency and planned physical health hospitalisations in those with SMI, compared to matched comparators, and to investigate how these rates differ by SMI diagnosis.

Methods: We used Clinical Practice Research DataLink Gold and Aurum databases to identify 20,668 patients in England diagnosed with SMI between January 2000 and March 2016, with linked hospital records in Hospital Episode Statistics.

Intracellular replication of Inquilinus limosus in bronchial epithelial cells.

Inquilinus limosus is an emerging multi-resistant opportunistic pathogen documented mainly in cystic fibrosis patients. Infection with I. limosus is accompanied by either an acute respiratory exacerbation or a progressive loss of pulmonary function.

Behaviors and psychological states associated with transitions from regaining to losing weight.

Objective: Little is known about week-to-week recovery from regains following a behavioral weight loss intervention (BWLI). This study examined changes in behaviors, cognitions, and moods associated with transitioning from weight regain to weight loss during the nine-month weight loss maintenance period after a three-month Internet-based BWLI.

Method: Participants ( = 68) self-weighed daily via "smart" scales and answered 40 weekly questionnaires about their weight-related behaviors and psychological states.

Pharmacist-Driven Methicillin-Resistant Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing for Pneumonia.

Background: Nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant (MRSA) can be detected using nasal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and is associated with clinical MRSA infection. The MRSA nasal PCR has a rapid turnaround time and a negative predictive value for MRSA pneumonia of >98%; however, data are limited in critically ill patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a pharmacist-driven algorithm, utilizing MRSA PCR nasal screening on duration of anti-MRSA therapy in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with suspected pneumonia.

Effect of menthol on nicotine reduction: Pooled results from two double-blind randomized controlled trials.

Background: Menthol upregulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and is associated with tobacco dependence. The effects of menthol when smoking cigarettes with varying low nicotine content up to 98 % (e.g.

The impact of comorbid severe mental illness and common chronic physical health conditions on hospitalisation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: People with severe mental illness (SMI) are at higher risk of physical health conditions compared to the general population, however, the impact of specific underlying health conditions on the use of secondary care by people with SMI is unknown. We investigated hospital use in people managed in the community with SMI and five common physical long-term conditions: cardiovascular diseases, COPD, cancers, diabetes and liver disease.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (Prospero: CRD42020176251) using terms for SMI, physical health conditions and hospitalisation.

Peripheral Nerve Involvement at First Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective MR Neurography Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess peripheral nerve involvement in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at first clinical presentation using quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) neurography in correlation with clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological, and central nervous MR imaging data.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective monocentric study, 30 patients first diagnosed with MS according to the McDonald criteria (19 women; mean age, 32.4 ± 8.

Flavor science in the context of research on electronic cigarettes.

Thousands start smoking or vaping daily, despite long-standing efforts by public health authorities to curb initiation and use of nicotine containing products. Over the last 15 years, use of electronic nicotine delivery systems has increased dramatically, with a diverse range of products on the market, including pod-based, disposable, and refillable electronic cigarettes (eCigs). Originally intended for harm reduction and smoking cessation, eCigs may encourage nicotine use among never smokers, given the vast range of appealing flavors that are available.

Variation in TAS2R receptor genes explains differential bitterness of two common antibiotics.

For pharmaceuticals to deliver their full benefits with maximum efficacy, patients need to follow recommended dosing schedules, in terms of amount and frequency. Unfortunately, the aversive taste of many drugs, especially bitterness, can reduce patient compliance in oral liquid formulations. Given common genetic differences in bitter taste receptor genes (), some individuals may be at increased risk for poor compliance due to heightened bitterness that becomes a barrier to proper use.

Deploying the Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Cancer Smart Health System to Support Patients and Family Caregivers in Managing Pain: Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

Background: Distressing cancer pain remains a serious symptom management issue for patients and family caregivers, particularly within home settings. Technology can support home-based cancer symptom management but must consider the experience of patients and family caregivers, as well as the broader environmental context.

Objective: This study aimed to test the feasibility and acceptability of a smart health sensing system-Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Cancer (BESI-C)-that was designed to support the monitoring and management of cancer pain in the home setting.

Association of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics and Oral Antipsychotics With Disease Relapse, Health Care Use, and Adverse Events Among People With Schizophrenia.

Importance: Evidence for improved clinical outcomes with long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) vs oral antipsychotics (OAs) is limited in Asian populations and special patient groups, including older people (>65 years), people with substance use, and early initiators of LAIAs.

Objective: To compare the risk of disease relapse, health care use, and adverse events associated with the use of LAIAs vs OAs among people in Hong Kong with schizophrenia.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this self-controlled case series study, individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who were prescribed LAIAs and OAs between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019, were identified from the Clinical Database Analysis and Reporting System of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.

The temporal relationship between severe mental illness diagnosis and chronic physical comorbidity: a UK primary care cohort study of disease burden over 10 years.

Background: Despite increased rates of physical health problems in people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychotic illnesses, the temporal relationship between physical disease acquisition and diagnosis of a severe mental illness remains unclear. We aimed to determine the cumulative prevalence of 24 chronic physical conditions in people with severe mental illness from 5 years before to 5 years after their diagnosis.

Methods: In this cohort study, we used the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to identify patients aged 18-100 years who were diagnosed with severe mental illness between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2018.

Incidence and associations of hospital delirium diagnoses in 85,979 people with severe mental illness: A data linkage study.

Introduction: Delirium is an acute neuro-psychiatric disturbance precipitated by a range of physical stressors, with high morbidity and mortality. Little is known about its relationship with severe mental illness (SMI).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked data analyses of the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) databases.

Association between the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder and risk of traumatic injuries: a self-controlled case series study.

Background: Patients with bipolar disorder (BPD) are prone to engage in risk-taking behaviours and self-harm, contributing to higher risk of traumatic injuries requiring medical attention at the emergency room (ER).We hypothesize that pharmacological treatment of BPD could reduce the risk of traumatic injuries by alleviating symptoms but evidence remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between pharmacological treatment and the risk of ER admissions due to traumatic injuries.

Cancer rates and mortality in people with severe mental illness: Further evidence of lack of parity.

Background: Severe mental illness (SMI) is associated with poorer physical health, however the relationship between SMI and cancer is complex and previous study findings are inconsistent. Low incidence of cancer in those with SMI has been attributed to premature mortality, though evidence for this is lacking. We aimed to investigate the relationship between SMI and cancer incidence and mortality, and to assess the effect of premature mortality on cancer incidence rates.

Persistent, High Levels of Social Jetlag Predict Poor Weight Outcomes in a Weight Gain Prevention Study for Young adults.

Introduction: Social jetlag (SJL), the discrepancy in sleep timing between weekdays and weekends, is associated with higher BMI and cardiometabolic risk and is common in young adults. We examined whether chronic SJL impacts weight gain in young adults participating in a weight gain prevention trial.

Methods: Young adults (n = 599, age 18-35; BMI: 21.

Salivary α-amylase activity and flow rate explain differences in temporal flavor perception in a chewing gum matrix comprising starch-limonene inclusion complexes.

Starch-guest inclusion complexes (ICs) are a novel, clean-label flavor encapsulation system with the potential to improve stability of aroma volatiles. While amylase has been shown to modulate guest release in vitro, release by sensory perception has not been evaluated. Here, Temporal Check-All-That-Apply (TCATA) and CATA were used to compare flavor perception of starch-limonene ICs to uncomplexed limonene, and the differences in perception were explored as a function of participant salivary α-amylase activity (sAA) and salivary flow rate (sFR).

An inhibitor of interaction between the transcription factor NRF2 and the E3 ubiquitin ligase adapter β-TrCP delivers anti-inflammatory responses in mouse liver.

It is widely accepted that activating the transcription factor NRF2 will blast the physiological anti-inflammatory mechanisms, which will help combat pathologic inflammation. Much effort is being put in inhibiting the main NRF2 repressor, KEAP1, with either electrophilic small molecules or disrupters of the KEAP1/NRF2 interaction. However, targeting β-TrCP, the non-canonical repressor of NRF2, has not been considered yet.

Staff and patient experience of the implementation and delivery of a virtual health care home monitoring service for COVID-19 in Melbourne, Australia.

Background: Provision of virtual health care (VHC) home monitoring for patients who are experiencing mild to moderate COVID-19 illness is emerging as a central strategy for reducing pressure on acute health systems. Understanding the enablers and challenges in implementation and delivery of these programs is important for future implementation and re-design. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of staff involved with the implementation and delivery, and the experience of patients managed by, a VHC monitoring service in Melbourne, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.