Evaluating Large Language Model-Supported Instructions for Medication Use: First Steps Toward a Comprehensive Model.

Objective: To assess the support of large language models (LLMs) in generating clearer and more personalized medication instructions to enhance e-prescription.

Patients And Methods: We established patient-centered guidelines for adequate, acceptable, and personalized directions to enhance e-prescription. A dataset comprising 104 outpatient scenarios, with an array of medications, administration routes, and patient conditions, was developed following the Brazilian national e-prescribing standard.

Fostering Digital Health in Universities: An Experience of the First Junior Scientific Committee of the Brazilian Congress of Health Informatics.

Objectives: Digital health (DH) is a revolution driven by digital technologies to improve health. Despite the importance of DH, curricular updates in healthcare university programs are scarce, and DH remains undervalued. Therefore, this report describes the first Junior Scientific Committee (JSC) focusing on DH at a nationwide congress, with the aim of affirming its importance for promoting DH in universities.

Ametropia detection using a novel, compact wavefront autorefractor.

Introduction: Despite the well-known reproducibility issues of subjective refraction, most studies evaluating autorefractors compared differences between the device and subjective refraction. This work evaluated the performance of a novel handheld Hartmann-Shack-based autorefractor using an alternative protocol, which considered the inherent variability of subjective refraction.

Methods: Participants underwent an initial measurement with a desktop autorefractor, two subjective refractions (SR1 and SR2) and a final measurement with the QuickSee Free (QSFree) portable autorefractor.

Correction: Assesment of the QuickSee wavefront autorefractor for characterizing refractive errors in school-age children.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Prediction of manifest refraction using machine learning ensemble models on wavefront aberrometry data.

Purpose: To assess the performance of machine learning (ML) ensemble models for predicting patient subjective refraction (SR) using demographic factors, wavefront aberrometry data, and measurement quality related metrics taken with a low-cost portable autorefractor.

Methods: Four ensemble models were evaluated for predicting individual power vectors (M, J, and J) corresponding to the eyeglass prescription of each patient. Those models were random forest regressor (RF), gradient boosting regressor (GB), extreme gradient boosting regressor (XGB), and a custom assembly model (ASB) that averages the first three models.

Predicting subjective refraction with dynamic retinal image quality analysis.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the performance of a novel algorithm that combines dynamic wavefront aberrometry data and descriptors of the retinal image quality from objective autorefractor measurements to predict subjective refraction. We conducted a retrospective study of the prediction accuracy and precision of the novel algorithm compared to standard search-based retinal image quality optimization algorithms. Dynamic measurements from 34 adult patients were taken with a handheld wavefront autorefractor and static data was obtained with a high-end desktop wavefront aberrometer.

Longitudinal assessment of leukotriene B4, lipoxin A4, and resolvin D1 plasma levels in pregnant women with risk factors for preeclampsia.

Objectives: We carried out a longitudinal study to compare leukotriene B4 (LTB4), lipoxin A4 (LXA4), and resolvin D1 (RvD1) levels in pregnant women with risk factors for PE - who did (N = 11) or did not develop (N = 17) this clinical condition.

Design & Methods: For both groups, plasma levels of the lipid mediators were measured using immunoassays at 12-19, 20-29, and 30-34 weeks of gestation.

Results: LTB4 tended to be upregulated throughout gestation in women who developed PE.

Efficient flowless separation of mixed microbead populations on periodic ferromagnetic surface structures.

The simultaneous separational control of motion of individual objects is vital to achieve high efficiency separation for biological analytes in biomedical applications. Here, we show the selective and directed movement of different populations of microbeads depending on their size in a flowless environment by means of a hexagonally structured soft-magnetic microchip platform. By adjusting strength and asymmetry of a modulated in-plane magnetic field, discrete and switchable movement patterns of two different types of beads above a magnetic surface structure are achieved.

Investigation of the Accuracy of a Low-Cost, Portable Autorefractor to Provide Well-Tolerated Eyeglass Prescriptions: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Purpose: To compare patient preferences for eyeglasses prescribed using a low-cost, portable wavefront autorefractor versus standard subjective refraction (SR).

Design: Randomized, cross-over clinical trial.

Participants: Patients aged 18 to 40 years presenting with refractive errors (REs) to a tertiary eye hospital in Southern India.

A Mobile Serious Game About the Pandemic (COVID-19 - Did You Know?): Design and Evaluation Study.

Background: No treatment for COVID-19 is yet available; therefore, providing access to information about SARS-CoV-2, the transmission route of the virus, and ways to prevent the spread of infection is a critical sanitary measure worldwide. Serious games have advantages in the dissemination of reliable information during the pandemic; they can provide qualified content while offering interactivity to the user, and they have great reach over the internet.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a serious game with the purpose of providing science-based information on the prevention of COVID-19 and personal care during the pandemic while assessing players' knowledge about COVID-19-related topics.

Assesment of the QuickSee wavefront autorefractor for characterizing refractive errors in school-age children.

Purpose: To assess the performance of an open-view binocular handheld aberrometer (QuickSee) for diagnosing refractive errors in children.

Methods: 123 school-age children (9.9 ± 3.

Beneficial effects of paricalcitol on cardiac dysfunction and remodelling in a model of established heart failure.

Background And Purpose: The synthetic vitamin D3 analogue paricalcitol acts as a selective activator of the vitamin D receptor (VDR). While there is evidence for cardioprotective effects of paricalcitol associated with the VDR pathway, less information is available about the structural and functional cardiac effects of paricalcitol on established heart failure (HF) and particularly its effects on associated electrophysiological or Ca handling remodelling.

Experimental Approach: We used a murine model of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) to study the effect of paricalcitol on established HF.

Validation of an Affordable Handheld Wavefront Autorefractor.

Significance: There is a critical need for tools that increase the accessibility of eye care to address the most common cause of vision impairment: uncorrected refractive errors. This work assesses the performance of an affordable autorefractor, which could help reduce the burden of this health care problem in low-resource communities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate the commercial version of a portable wavefront autorefractor for measuring refractive errors.

Quality of eyeglass prescriptions from a low-cost wavefront autorefractor evaluated in rural India: results of a 708-participant field study.

Objective: To assess the quality of eyeglass prescriptions provided by an affordable wavefront autorefractor operated by a minimally trained technician in a low-resource setting.

Methods And Analysis: 708 participants were recruited from consecutive patients registered for routine eye examinations at Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India, or an affiliated rural satellite vision centre. Visual acuity (VA) and patient preference were compared between trial lenses set to two eyeglass prescriptions from (1) a novel wavefront autorefractor and (2) subjective refraction by an experienced refractionist.

Longitudinal assessment of D-dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 plasma levels in pregnant women with risk factors for preeclampsia.

Objective: Investigating D-Dimer/D-Di and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1/PAI-1 levels throughout gestation in women with preeclampsia/PE risk factors.

Methods: D-Di and PAI-1 plasma levels were determined in 28 women at 12-19, 20-29, 30-34 and 35-40 weeks of gestation.

Results: D-Di was lower at 12-19 weeks and higher at 30-34 weeks in women who developed PE versus who did not develop it.

Tunable lenses: dynamic characterization and fine-tuned control for high-speed applications.

Tunable lenses are becoming ubiquitous, in applications including microscopy, optical coherence tomography, computer vision, quality control, and presbyopic corrections. Many applications require an accurate control of the optical power of the lens in response to a time-dependent input waveform. We present a fast focimeter (3.

Acylation of the S4-PV cell-penetrating peptide as a means of enhancing its capacity to mediate nucleic acid delivery: Relevance of peptide/lipid interactions.

Background: Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been extensively exploited in gene therapy approaches as vectors for intracellular delivery of bioactive molecules. The ability of CPPs to be internalized into cells and their capacity to complex nucleic acids depend on their molecular structure, both primary and secondary, namely regarding hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity. CPP acylation has been used as a strategy to improve this structural feature.

Effect of the alkyl group in the piperazine N-substitution on the therapeutic action of rifamycins: A drug-membrane interaction study.

In this work, we studied the effects of the N-alkyl group (methyl, cyclopentyl) in the piperazine ring of, respectively, rifampicin (RIF) and rifapentine (RPT) to correlate this substitution with their differential pharmacokinetic properties and overall clinical performance. Since this group is their only structural change, and given that they share the same pharmacological target, differences in their therapeutic behavior may respond to this asset, particularly in their interaction with lipid membranes across the organism. In this study, surface pressure-area isotherms, as well as spectroscopic and microscopic techniques of characterization of phospholipid monolayers at the air/water interface were used to gain insight into drug-membrane interactions.

Tunable Strain in Magnetoelectric ZnO Microrod Composite Interfaces.

The intrinsic strain at coupled components in magnetoelectric composites plays an important role for the properties and function of these materials. In this in situ X-ray nanodiffraction experiment, the coating-induced as well as the magnetic-field-induced strain at the coupled interface of complex magnetoelectric microcomposites were investigated. These consist of piezoelectric ZnO microrods coated with an amorphous layer of magnetostrictive (FeCo)SiB.

CMV-specific T-cell immunity in solid organ transplant recipients at low risk of CMV infection. Chronology and applicability in preemptive therapy.

Objectives: To characterize whether the CMV-specific cellular immune response can be used as a predictor of the control of CMV infection and disease and determine thresholds in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients seropositive for CMV (R+).

Methods: The CMV-specific T-cell response was characterized using intracellular cytokine staining and the evolution of clinical and virological parameters were recorded during the first year after transplantation.

Results: Besides having positive CMV serology, only 28.

Efficacy and Safety of de Novo and Early Use of Extended-release Tacrolimus in Heart Transplantation.

Introduction And Objectives: The extended-release formulation of tacrolimus (ERT) allows once-daily dosage, thus simplifying the immunosuppressive regimen. This study aimed to describe the safety and efficacy of the de novo and early use of ERT in heart transplantation.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, multicenter study comparing the safety and efficacy of the de novo use of ERT (ERT group [n=94]), standard-release tacrolimus (SRT group [n=42]) and early conversion (EC) from SRT to ERT (EC group [n=44]).

Uromodulin: a new biomarker of fetal renal function?

Introduction: Obstructive uropathies are main diseases affecting the fetus. Early diagnosis allows to establish the appropriate therapy to minimize the risk of damage to kidney function at birth. Biochemical markers have been used to predict the prognosis of renal function in fetuses.

A multitechnique approach on adsorption, self-assembly and quercetin solubilization by Tetronics micelles in aqueous solutions modulated by glycine.

Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide (EO-PO) block copolymer micelles are useful potential nanoreservoirs for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. Considering that glycine is an excipient and can favorably affect the surface/micellar behavior and thus improve solubilization power/dispersion stability/wetting characteristics we have reported here studies on aqueous solution behavior of two commercially available branched block copolymers (Tetronics) with differing hydrophobicities namely Tetronics 1307 and 1304, hereafter referred as T1307 and T1304, in the presence of glycine. Steady state fluorescence studies using pyrene as a probe, equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements, wetting and dispersion stability studies of Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene; PTFE) and solubilization studies of a hydrophobic antioxidant/anticancer drug quercetin (QN) have been examined.

Surface and Aggregation Behavior of Pentablock Copolymer PNIPAM7-F127-PNIPAM7 in Aqueous Solutions.

The triblock Pluronic F127 was modified by introducing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) at both the poly(ethylene oxide) ends, and the pentablock copolymer so-prepared was characterized by gel permeation chromatography and (1)H NMR. The degree of polymerization of NIPAM blocks at the two ends was 7. The solution behavior and microstructure of copolymer aggregates in water and aqueous salt solution were examined and compared with F127 by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, microdifferential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS).

Twelve-month efficacy and safety of the conversion to everolimus in maintenance heart transplant recipients.

Aim: To determine the clinical reasons for conversion to everolimus (EVL) and long-term outcomes in heart transplant (HT) recipients.

Methods: A retrospective 12-mo study has been carried out in 14 Spanish centres to assess the efficacy and safety of conversion to EVL in maintenance HT recipients.

Results: Two hundred and twenty-two patients were included (mean age: 53 ± 10.