Characteristics and Functional Properties of Bioactive Oleogels: A Current Review.

Oleogels have been a revolutionary innovation in food science in terms of their health benefits and unique structural properties. They provide a healthier alternative to traditional solid or animal fats. They have improved oxidative stability and nutritional value to maintain the desirable sensory qualities of lipid-based foods.

Evaluation of the Clinicopathological Features Associated With Malignancy of Phyllodes Tumor of the Breast.

Objective: Phyllodes tumor (PT) is a variant of fibroepithelial proliferations of the breast, histologically demonstrating a leaf-like pattern. The WHO has categorized PTs as benign, borderline, or malignant based on their histological characteristics. The objective of this paper is to assess the clinicopathological factors with malignancy in PT of the breast.

High Cirrhosis Surgical Volume Centers have Reduced Postoperative Mortality in Patients with Cirrhosis Undergoing Major Surgery.

Patients with cirrhosis have increased surgical risk and require care team expertise. We explored the association between center cirrhosis surgical volume and post-operative mortality in a large VA dataset. In this retrospective cohort study of 14,500 major surgeries in patients with cirrhosis, we found in adjusted analysis that high-volume centers (>16 surgeries in past year) had a 36% reduced hazard of post-operative mortality through 90 days versus low-volume centers (<9 surgeries in past year; hazard ratio 0.

Endoscopy and Anesthesia Outcomes Associated with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist use in Patients Undergoing Outpatient Upper Endoscopy.

Background And Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) can cause delayed gastric emptying, raising concern for retained gastric contents (RGCs) during endoscopy and adverse anesthesia events. We aimed to determine associations between GLP1RA and endoscopy and anesthesia outcomes.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study examined patients prescribed GLP1RA who underwent outpatient endoscopy stratified by exposure at the time of endoscopy.

Mortality, Hepatic Decompensation, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Lean vs. Non-lean MASLD Cirrhosis: A Veterans Affairs Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has a global prevalence of 25%. Studies on incident liver and cardiovascular outcomes in lean (Body mass index: BMI < 25 kg/m, or < 23 kg/m for Asians) vs. non-lean individuals with MASLD have reported mixed results.

Exploring the Feasibility of Direct-Dispersion Oleogels in Healthier Sausage Formulations.

Oleogels developed through the direct-dispersion method offer an innovative, scalable, and efficient alternative to traditional fats in sausage production, providing a solution to health concerns associated with the high saturated fat content of conventional formulations. By closely mimicking the texture, stability, and mouthfeel of animal fats, these oleogels provide a novel approach to improving the nutritional profile of sausages while maintaining desirable sensory characteristics. This review critically evaluates cutting-edge research on oleogels, emphasizing innovations in their ability to enhance emulsion stability, increase cooking yield, reduce processing weight loss, and optimize fatty acid composition by reducing overall fat and saturated fat levels.

Representation of Women Among Cardiology Grand Rounds Speakers in the United States.

Importance: Women are underrepresented in leadership positions in cardiology. Institutional grand rounds (GR) are platforms through which faculty can gain professional exposure and access to career development opportunities. The gender diversity of invited cardiology GR speakers has not been investigated.

Validation and Epidemiologic Definition of the Novel Steatotic Liver Disease Nomenclature in a National United States Cohort With Cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Novel steatotic liver disease (SLD) definitions were introduced in 2023. Accurate and meaningful classifications using clinical data are needed to study interventions and outcomes.

Methods: In a national cohort of Veterans with cirrhosis and imaging-confirmed steatosis, 7 algorithms differentially emphasizing cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) and alcohol exposure were developed to define alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), metabolic dysfunction associated SLD (MASLD), and MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD).

Real-world impact of the platinum chemotherapy shortage on US patients with advanced cancer.

The recent cisplatin and carboplatin ("platinum") chemotherapy shortage, first announced on February 10, 2023, has impacted cancer patients nationwide. Here, we quantify the extent to which the shortage affected platinum chemotherapy prescribing and short-term mortality. This cohort study included 11 797 adults with advanced solid cancers who initiated first-line therapy during the 1-year period before (February 1, 2022-February 9, 2023) or during (February 10, 2023-January 31, 2024) the platinum shortage.

Decarbonizing the Food System with Microbes and Carbon-Neutral Feedstocks.

Harnessing CO and CO-derived C1-C2 compounds for microbial food production can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and boost sustainability within the food sector. These innovative technologies support carbon neutrality by generating nutrient-rich edible microbial biomass and biocompounds using autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes. However, qualifying microbial food viability and future impacts in the food sector remains challenging due to their diversity, technical complexity, socioeconomic forces, and incipient markets.

Survival Benefit From Corticosteroids in Severe Alcohol-associated Hepatitis Attributed to Clinical and Treatment Differences in a Large Multicenter Cohort.

Introduction: Corticosteroids are recommended by multiple society guidelines for the treatment of severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). However, their use remains controversial due to inconsistent studies regarding their survival benefit.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of first-time hospitalizations for severe AH (Maddrey discriminant function ≥ 32) admitted to the Veterans Health Administration between January 3, 2005, and December 5, 2020, (i) evaluating the effect of corticosteroid therapy on all-cause survival, (ii) characterizing the clinical and psychosocial factors associated with corticosteroid use, and (iii) determining the effect of duration of corticosteroid therapy on all-cause survival among treatment-responsive patients (Lille score < 0.

Albumin for Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: Care Variation, Disparities, and Outcomes.

Introduction: Intravenous albumin reduces mortality in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). We sought to characterize albumin use for SBP over time and investigate patient-level and hospital-level factors associated with use.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study in the Veterans Health Administration between 2008 and 2021 evaluated trends and patient-level, practice-level, and facility-level factors associated with use among patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for SBP confirmed with ascitic fluid criteria.

Predictors of body image perceptions among healthcare providers in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Objectives: The study's aim was to find predictors of body image perception scores among health care providers (HCPs) in Terengganu, Malaysia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among 201 health care providers (HCPs) was conducted from January to March 2023. This study participants were drawn from a pool of HCPs with a BMI of 25 kg/m or higher.

Road traffic accidents involvement among commercial taxi drivers in Nigeria: Structural equation modelling approach.

Taxis are essential to economic growth due to the ease and comfort they offer passengers. This is evident as most cities, especially in Africa, are dominated by taxis providing door-to-door services. However, their susceptibility to road traffic accidents (RTA) raises serious concerns due to their risky driving behaviours.

Rabies control in Bangladesh and prediction of human rabies cases by 2030: a One Health approach.

Background: Bangladesh is making progress toward achieving zero dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030, a global goal set in 2015.

Methods: Drawing from multiple datasets, including patient immunisation record books and mass dog vaccination (MDV) databases, we conducted a comprehensive analysis between 2011 and 2023 to understand the effectiveness of rabies control programmes and predict human rabies cases in Bangladesh by 2030 using time-series forecasting models. We also compared rabies virus sequences from GenBank in Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.

Hybrid immunity augments cross-variant protection against COVID-19 among immunocompromised individuals.

Background: Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection differs considerably among individuals. We investigate the critical pathways that influence vaccine-induced cross-variant serological immunity among individuals at high-risk of COVID-19 complications.

Methods: Neutralizing antibodies to the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants (Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron) were analyzed in patients with autoimmune diseases, chronic comorbidities (multimorbidity), and healthy controls.

The Association Between Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Exposure and Key Cirrhosis-Related Outcomes.

Introduction: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) may have hepatic benefits in patients with primarily chronic liver disease. ACE-I/ARB have not been evaluated in broad cohorts inclusive of those with decompensated cirrhosis. We analyzed the real-world association between ACE-I/ARB exposure and cirrhosis-related outcomes in a national cohort.

Preoperative Hepatology and Primary Care Visits Improve Postoperative Outcomes in Patients With Cirrhosis Undergoing Surgery.

Background And Aims: Cirrhosis patients are at increased risk for postoperative complications. It remains unclear whether preoperative nonsurgical clinician visits improve postoperative outcomes. We assessed the impact of preoperative primary care physician (PCP) and/or gastroenterologist/hepatologist (GI/Hep) visits on postoperative mortality in cirrhosis patients undergoing surgery and explored differences in medication changes and paracentesis rates as potential mediators.

Performance of race-neutral eGFR equations in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

The 2021 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation [CKD-EPI 2021] is a race-neutral equation recently developed and rapidly implemented as a reference standard to estimate glomerular filtration rate(GFR). However, its role in cirrhosis has not been examined especially in low GFR. We analyzed the performance of CKD-EPI 2021 compared to other equations with protocol-measured GFR (mGFR) in cirrhosis.

Enhancing rice growth and yield with weed endophytic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis and Metabacillus indicus under reduced chemical fertilization.

Endophytic bacteria, recognized as eco-friendly biofertilizers, have demonstrated the potential to enhance crop growth and yield. While the plant growth-promoting effects of endophytic bacteria have been extensively studied, the impact of weed endophytes remains less explored. In this study, we aimed to isolate endophytic bacteria from native weeds and assess their plant growth-promoting abilities in rice under varying chemical fertilization.