Development and Validation of a Clinical, CT, Genomic Classifier and BAL Scoring System for Diagnosing IPF.

The utility of incorporating a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) genomic classifier (GC) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell count analysis alongside traditional clinical-imaging assessment in aiding in the multidisciplinary diagnosis of IPF in patients with a non-definite HRCT UIP pattern is uncertain.We reviewed consecutive adult patients presenting with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) and non-definite HRCT UIP pattern who underwent BAL and GC. The initial fILD diagnoses were re-evaluated after bronchoscopy and a final multidisciplinary consensus diagnosis was provided.

Enhanced Specificity in Colorimetric LAMP Assay for Detection Using a Combination of Two Additives.

The genus comprises fungal species closely related to , with and being medically important. These species can cause infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The current detection methods are limited, prompting the need for rapid and specific diagnostic tools.

Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of a First-in-Class ClC-1 Inhibitor to Enhance Muscle Excitability: Phase I Randomized Controlled Trial.

NMD670 is a first-in-class inhibitor of skeletal muscle-specific chloride channel ClC-1, developed to improve muscle weakness and fatigue in neuromuscular diseases. Preclinical studies show that ClC-1 inhibition enhances muscle excitability, improving muscle contractility and strength. We describe the first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single and multiple doses of NMD670 in healthy male and female subjects.

Palmitoyl-L-carnitine induces tau phosphorylation and mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss, involving mechanisms such as tau hyperphosphorylation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Increasing evidence suggests that age-related alterations in metabolite levels are crucial for the pathogenesis of AD. Here, we analyzed serum metabolites from mice of various ages (2, 4, 14, and 21 months old) using mass spectrometry.

Predicting Regression of Barrett's Esophagus-Can All the King's Men Put It Together Again?

The primary pre-neoplastic lesion of the lower esophagus in the vicinity of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is any Barrett's esophageal lesions (BE), and esophageal neoplasia has increased in the US population with predispositions (Caucasian males, truncal obesity, age, and GERD). The responses to BE are endoscopic and screening cytologic programs with endoscopic ablation of various forms. The former have not been proven to be cost-effective and there are mixed results for eradication.

Open-Label Interventional Study in Healthy Volunteers to Evaluate NO-Mediated Vasodilation by Dermal Allyl Isothiocyanate Challenge and Whole-Body Heat Stress.

Dermal allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) administration and whole-body heat stress (WBHS) are two challenge models that are used to evaluate physiological mechanisms of vasodilation and pharmacological activity in humans. Their exact vasodilatory mechanisms in humans are not fully elucidated but are likely to be nitric oxide (NO)-mediated. This study aimed to evaluate whether there is overlap in the vasodilatory pathways of dermal AITC application and WBHS by combining the challenges.

Microvascular effects of a mixed meal tolerance test: a model validation study.

Purpose: Endothelial dysfunction is a pathophysiological change preceding many cardiovascular events. Measuring improvements of endothelial function is challenging when function is already optimal, which may be remediated using a physiological challenge. This study aimed to determine whether imaging assessments can detect microvascular effects of a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT).

Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for High-Risk and Very High-Risk Locoregional Prostate Cancer in the Modern Era: Real-World Experience from an Asian Cohort.

This study retrospectively evaluates the clinical outcomes of definitive volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for high-risk or very high-risk locoregional prostate cancer patients from an Asian institution. Consecutive patients who received VMAT (76 Gy in 38 fractions) between January 2017 and June 2022 were included. Whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) (46 Gy in 23 fractions) was employed for clinically node-negative disease (cN0) and a Roach estimated risk of ≥15%, as well as simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) of 55-57.

Mitofusin 1 and 2 overexpression reduces AβO-mediated ER stress and apoptosis in N2a APPswe cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, and amyloid beta oligomers (AβO), which are pathological markers of AD, are known to be highly toxic. AβO increase mitochondrial dysfunction, which is accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial fusion. Although mitofusin (Mfn) 1 and Mfn2 are mitochondrial fusion proteins, Mfn2 is known to regulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function, as it is located in the ER.

Cannabidiol Increases Psychotropic Effects and Plasma Concentrations of Δ-Tetrahydrocannabinol Without Improving Its Analgesic Properties.

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-intoxicating compound in cannabis, has been hypothesized to reduce the adverse effects of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive and analgesic component of cannabis. This clinical trial investigated the hypothesis that CBD counteracts the adverse effects of THC and thereby potentially improves the tolerability of cannabis as an analgesic. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, five-way cross-over trial was performed in 37 healthy volunteers.

Guselkumab treatment normalizes the stratum corneum ceramide profile and alleviates barrier dysfunction in psoriasis: results of a randomized controlled trial.

The epidermal inflammation associated with psoriasis drives skin barrier perturbations. The skin barrier is primarily located in stratum corneum (SC). Its function depends on the SC lipid matrix of which ceramides constitute important components.

Micropropagation of the Ornamental Aquatic Plant, Aponogeton ulvaceus, from Immature Tuber Explants.

The aquatic monocot, Aponogeton ulvaceus Baker, is endemic to Madagascar and is a commercially valuable ornamental aquarium plant. Members of the genus Aponogeton contain a spectrum of phytochemicals associated with a broad range of biological activities. However, much remains to be known about this genus, and the A.

Target engagement and immunogenicity of an active immunotherapeutic targeting pathological α-synuclein: a phase 1 placebo-controlled trial.

Investigational therapeutics that target toxic species of α-synuclein (αSyn) aim to slow down or halt disease progression in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Here this 44-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center phase 1 study investigated safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of UB-312, an active immunotherapeutic targeting pathological αSyn, in patients with PD. The primary outcome measures were adverse event frequency and change in anti-αSyn antibody titers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

A Multi-centered Retrospective Study on the Efficacy of Pulsed Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis: A Mid-term Outcome.

Background Plantar fasciitis, a condition marked by persistent and often excruciating heel pain, frequently poses a formidable hurdle when conservative treatment approaches fall short. This multi-centered retrospective study embarks on a journey to explore the potential effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency nerve ablation (RFNA), an innovative and less invasive procedure, as a novel avenue for treating recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. This investigation centers around a group of 24 patients who have faced the persistence of this challenging ailment.

Rottlerin Enhances the Autophagic Degradation of Phosphorylated Tau in Neuronal Cells.

Intra-neuronal accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated tau as neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To prevent the aggregation of phosphorylated tau in neurons, decreasing the phosphorylated tau protein levels is important. Here, we examined the biological effects of rottlerin, a phytochemical compound extracted from the Kamala tree, Mallotus philippinensis, on phosphorylated tau levels.

Automatic and real-time tissue sensing for autonomous intestinal anastomosis using hybrid MLP-DC-CNN classifier-based optical coherence tomography.

Anastomosis is a common and critical part of reconstructive procedures within gastrointestinal, urologic, and gynecologic surgery. The use of autonomous surgical robots such as the smart tissue autonomous robot (STAR) system demonstrates an improved efficiency and consistency of the laparoscopic small bowel anastomosis over the current da Vinci surgical system. However, the STAR workflow requires auxiliary manual monitoring during the suturing procedure to avoid missed or wrong stitches.

FDA experiences with a centralized statistical monitoring tool.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has broadly supported quality by design initiatives for clinical trials - including monitoring and data validation - by releasing two related guidance documents (FDA 2013 and 2019).

The ClC-1 chloride channel inhibitor NMD670 improves skeletal muscle function in rat models and patients with myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease that results in compromised transmission of electrical signals at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) from motor neurons to skeletal muscle fibers. As a result, patients with MG have reduced skeletal muscle function and present with symptoms of severe muscle weakness and fatigue. ClC-1 is a skeletal muscle specific chloride (Cl) ion channel that plays important roles in regulating neuromuscular transmission and muscle fiber excitability during intense exercise.

First ever characterisation of the effects of short telomeres in a Singapore interstitial lung disease cohort.

Background: Differences in disease behaviour and genotypes are described in Asian and Western interstitial lung disease (ILD) cohorts. Short leukocyte telomere length (LTL) correlates with poor outcomes in Western ILD cohorts but its significance in Asian populations is unknown. We aim to characterise the burden and clinical implications of short LTL in Singaporean ILD patients.

Autonomous System for Tumor Resection (ASTR) - Dual-Arm Robotic Midline Partial Glossectomy.

Head and neck cancers are the seventh most common cancers worldwide, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most prevalent histologic subtype. Surgical resection is a primary treatment modality for many patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and accurately identifying tumor boundaries and ensuring sufficient resection margins are critical for optimizing oncologic outcomes. This study presents an innovative autonomous system for tumor resection (ASTR) and conducts a feasibility study by performing supervised autonomous midline partial glossectomy for pseudotumor with millimeter accuracy.

Faculty development for strengthening online teaching capability: a mixed-methods study of what staff want, evaluated with Kirkpatrick's model of teaching effectiveness.

Background: Globally, tertiary teachers are increasingly being pushed and pulled into online teaching. While most developments in online education have focused on the student perspective, few studies have reported faculty development (FD) initiatives for increasing online teaching capability and confidence from a staff perspective.

Methods: We designed and evaluated FD workshops, using five datasets, and the use of H5P software for interactive online teaching.

Hydrogen peroxide as a mitigation against sp. bloom.

sp. is a harmful cyanobacterial species commonly seen in earthen ponds. The overgrowth of these algae can lead to fluctuations in water parameters, including DO and pH.

Using Clinical Vignettes to Understand the Complexity of Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Lack of awareness, access to insulin and diabetes care can result in high levels of morbidity and mortality for children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Improvements in access to insulin and diabetes management have improved outcomes in some settings. However, many people still present in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in parallel to misdiagnosis of children with T1DM in contexts with high rates of communicable diseases.

Treatment with the Topical Antimicrobial Peptide Omiganan in Mild-to-Moderate Facial Seborrheic Dermatitis versus Ketoconazole and Placebo: Results of a Randomized Controlled Proof-of-Concept Trial.

Facial seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous and scaly lesions on the skin with high sebaceous gland activity. The yeast is regarded as a key pathogenic driver in this disease, but increased abundances and barrier dysfunction are implicated as well. Here, we evaluated the antimicrobial peptide omiganan as a treatment for SD since it has shown both antifungal and antibacterial activity.