Chlorotoxin-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-responsive paclitaxel delivery to Glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain cancer associated with poor survival rates. We developed novel mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs)-based nanocarriers for pH-responsive delivery of a therapeutic drug Paclitaxel (PTX) to GBM tumor cells. The pores of MSNs are loaded with PTX, which is retained by β-cyclodextrin (CD) moieties covalently linked to the pore entrances through a hydrazone linkage, which is cleavable in weakly acidic environment.

A versatile gold leaf immunosensor with a novel surface functionalization strategy based on protein L and trastuzumab for HER2 detection.

Although various sensors specifically developed for target analytes are available, affordable biosensing solutions with broad applicability are limited. In this study, a cost-effective biosensor for detecting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was developed using custom-made gold leaf electrodes (GLEs). A novel strategy for antibody immobilization on a gold surface, for the first time mediated by protein L and HER2-specific antibody trastuzumab, was examined using commercial screen-printed gold electrodes and GLEs.

Sex Differences in Pain Scores and Medication Consumption for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.

Background: Chronic pain is defined as any persistent or recurring pain lasting longer than 3 months that significantly affects a person's quality of life. Millions worldwide are impacted by chronic pain, but its subjective nature makes it difficult to quantify and compare between individuals.

Methods: This retrospective analysis aimed to examine the differences in pain perception and reporting between male and female patients, as well as how their pain was managed.

Effectiveness of Intradiscal Regenerative Medicine Therapies for Long-Term Relief of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recent research underscores the potential of intradiscal biologics, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and alpha-2-macroglobulin, in promoting chondrogenesis within lumbar intervertebral discs as a treatment for discogenic low back pain. Studies indicate significant improvements in pain relief, physical function, and overall quality of life following these interventions.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of intradiscal injections of MSCs and PRP in managing low back and lower extremity pain.

A 24% Decline in the Utilization of Epidural Procedure Visits for Chronic Spinal Pain Management in the Medicare Population from 2019 to 2022: Updated Analysis of the Effect of Multiple Factors.

Background: The analysis of epidural procedure utilization has revealed several notable trends over recent years. Utilization increased significantly until 2004, then rose minimally until 2011, followed by gradual declines up to 2019 in the Medicare population. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked 19% decline in usage from 2019 to 2020.

Escalating Growth to Rapid Decline of Utilization Patterns of Facet Joint Interventions in Managing Spinal Pain in the Medicare Population: Updated Analysis of the Effect of Multiple Factors from 2000 To 2022.

Background: The use of facet joint interventions for spinal pain management experienced rapid growth between 2000 and 2010, with an annual increase of 14.2%. However, this trend slowed significantly from 2010 to 2019, with a reduced growth rate of just 2.

Exponential Decline of 28.9% in Utilization of Interventional Pain Management Techniques Among Medicare Beneficiaries From 2019 to 2022: Updated Analysis on the Ongoing Effects of COVID-19, Economic Decline, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Medical Policies.

Background: Numerous studies have highlighted the escalating costs associated with managing low back and neck pain, as well as other musculoskeletal disorders. In the past, there was a notable increase in the use of interventional techniques to address these disorders. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted various chronic pain treatment approaches, including interventional procedures and opioid use, following a broader trend of reduced healthcare services.

Traumatic Dental Injuries in Children and Adolescents from a Major Dental Clinic in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A 5-Year Retrospective Study.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of dental trauma in a public dental clinic in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 2019 to 2024.

Methods: This research was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study. The data were analysed and compared between injured primary and permanent maxillary and mandibular teeth.

Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines for Implantable Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) in the Management of Chronic Pain: From the American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP).

Background: Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) has been used for over 50 years to treat chronic pain by delivering electrical pulses through small electrodes placed near targeted peripheral nerves those outside the brain and spinal cord. Early PNS systems often required invasive neurosurgical procedures. However, since 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved percutaneously implanted PNS leads and neurostimulators  offering a much less invasive, non-opioid option for managing recalcitrant chronic pain.

MgAl-Layered Double Hydroxide-Coated Bio-Silica as an Adsorbent for Anionic Pollutants Removal: A Case Study of the Implementation of Sustainable Technologies.

The adsorption efficiency of Cr(VI) and anionic textile dyes onto MgAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and MgAl-LDH coated on bio-silica (b-SiO) nanoparticles (MgAl-LDH@SiO) derived from waste rice husks was studied in this work. The material was characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) techniques. The adsorption capacities of MgAl-LDH@SiO were increased by 12.

Cationic waste hemp fibers-based membrane: Case study of anionic pollutants removal through environmentally friendly processes.

In this study, waste hemp fibers were transformed into cationically modified lignocellulosic adsorbent through a three-step process. First, a delignification/defibrillation pretreatment was performed, followed by quaternization of fibers using the synthesized ionic liquid chlorocholine chloride-urea (CCC-U). Pressure-assisted cross-linking of modified fibres, using a citric acid, produced new membrane (CCC-UHM).

Optimizing Hepatitis C Treatment Monitoring: Is Sustained Virologic Response at 4 Weeks Becoming the New Standard?

This study, conducted at two university-based infectious disease clinics, included 216 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The primary objective was to assess the positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) at 4 weeks compared to 12 weeks post-therapy. The results demonstrated a maximum sensitivity of 100% for achieving SVR at 12 weeks after reaching SVR at 4 weeks for all analyzed genotypes, except for genotype 1b treated with EBR/GZR therapy, where the specificity was 75%.

The Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC)®: Updates on Clinical Pharmacology and Comorbidity Management in Intrathecal Drug Delivery for Cancer Pain.

Introduction: The International Neuromodulation Society convened a multispecialty group of physicians based on expertise with international representation to establish evidence-based guidance on using intrathecal drug delivery in chronic pain treatment. This Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC)® project's scope is to provide evidence-based guidance for clinical pharmacology and best practices for intrathecal drug delivery for cancer pain.

Materials And Methods: Authors were chosen on the basis of their clinical expertise, familiarity with the peer-reviewed literature, research productivity, and contributions to the neuromodulation literature.

Attitudes and Knowledge of Dental Students in Bosnia and Herzegovina Towards Child Abuse and Neglect.

Introduction: Child abuse and neglect (CAN) are social and public health problems. Access to oral health care for abused and neglected children is a challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes and knowledge of dental students from Bosnia and Herzegovina towards CAN.

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Recurrent Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Background: While numerous studies have explored treatment outcomes for the overall ACC patient cohort, data on the subpopulation of patients with recurrent disease are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess treatment outcomes in patients with recurrent ACC.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 18 patients median age 49 years (42-62); 67% female) diagnosed with recurrent ENSAT stage I-III ACC who underwent either R0 ( = 16) or Rx ( = 2) surgical resection of the tumor.

Intravesical Gemcitabine and Docetaxel Therapy for BCG-Naïve Patients: A Promising Approach to Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) faces limitations in efficacy and significant side effects, aggravated by a recent global shortage. In this prospective clinical study, we report the outcomes of sequential intravesical administration of gemcitabine and docetaxel (Gem/Doce) as a first-line treatment for BCG-naïve patients with high-risk NMIBC (HR NMIBC). From October 2019 until April 2022, we enrolled 52 patients and followed the treatment protocol set forth by the University of Iowa.

Biosensors for Cancer Biomarkers Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) exhibit highly beneficial characteristics for devising efficient biosensors for different analytes. Their unique properties, such as capabilities for stable covalent binding to recognition groups (e.g.

LAPAROSCOPIC ADRENAL-SPARING SURGERY CASE SERIES: PARTIAL ADRENALECTOMY AND CYST RESECTION.

The aim is to present our case series documenting indications, laparoscopic technique, surgical and endocrinologic outcomes of laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy. In the period from April 2011 until October 2021, we performed 39 procedures. The patients were divided into three groups: unilateral adrenal gland tumor with a normal contralateral gland (group 1), tumor of the solitary adrenal gland (group 2), and adrenal cysts (group 3).

SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES OF PERCUTANEOUS RADIOFREQUENCY AND MICROWAVE ABLATION IN THE TREATMENT OF SMALL RENAL MASSES.

Although the gold standard in the management of kidney tumors is surgical treatment, thermal ablation methods are a viable therapeutic option for patients with small (<4 cm) renal masses who are poor surgical candidates. The aim of this study was to compare the technical success, primary efficacy and complication rate of percutaneous radiofrequency and microwave ablation in the treatment of small renal masses. A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with small renal masses treated with radiofrequency or microwave ablation between December 2017 and January 2022 was conducted.

TRENDS IN SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF RENAL NEOPLASMS: SINGLE CENTER RESULTS IN THE LAST DECADE.

The majority of renal neoplasms can be treated surgically using open or minimally-invasive approach. Nephron-sparing surgery should be used when possible, regardless to the operative approach. In this retrospective study, we analyzed surgical trends of operative treatment of renal neoplasms in the period from February 2011 until December 2020.

Substance P's Impact on Chronic Pain and Psychiatric Conditions-A Narrative Review.

Substance P (SP) plays a crucial role in pain modulation, with significant implications for major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Elevated SP levels are linked to heightened pain sensitivity and various psychiatric conditions, spurring interest in potential therapeutic interventions. In chronic pain, commonly associated with MDD and anxiety disorders, SP emerges as a key mediator in pain and emotional regulation.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of long-acting dexamethasone viscous gel delivered by transforaminal injection for lumbosacral radicular pain.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03372161.