Optimizing 5-aminosalicylate for moderate ulcerative colitis: expert recommendations from the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease Coalition.

The lack of clear definition and classification for "moderate ulcerative colitis (UC)" creates ambiguity regarding the suitability of step-up versus top-down treatment approaches. In this paper, experts address crucial gaps in assessing and managing moderate UC. The Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Inflammatory Bowel Disease Coalition comprised 24 experts who convened to share, discuss and vote electronically on management recommendations for moderate UC.

Engineering receptor-binding domain and heptad repeat domains towards the development of multi-epitopes oral vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The inability of existing vaccines to cope with the mutation rate has highlighted the need for effective preventative strategies for COVID-19. Through the secretion of immunoglobulin A, mucosal delivery of vaccines can effectively stimulate mucosal immunity for better protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this study, various immunoinformatic tools were used to design a multi-epitope oral vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 based on its receptor-binding domain (RBD) and heptad repeat (HR) domains.

Enhancing the solubility and potency of tetrahydrocurcumin as an anti-cancer agent using a β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex approach.

Curcuminoids originating from turmeric roots are renowned for their diverse pharmacological applications, particularly as a natural anticancer agent. Unfortunately, harnessing the full potential of curcumin derivatives in cancer therapy has been impeded by its inherent limitations, specifically instabilities owing to poor solubility, leading to low systemic bioavailability under normal physiological circumstances. To circumvent this, a novel organic-based drug delivery system employing physically adsorbed β-cyclodextrin (βCD) as an excipient was developed in this study.

Stability and expression of K-ras mimotopes in freeze-dried recombinant Lactococcus lactis NZ3900-fermented milk powder during storage in vacuum packaging.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the storage stability of the freeze-dried recombinant Lactococcus lactis NZ3900-fermented milk powder expressing K-ras (Kristen rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) mimotopes targeting colorectal cancer in vacuum packaging.

Methods And Results: The freeze-dried L. lactis-fermented milk powder stored in 4-ply retortable polypropylene (RCPP)-polyamide (PA)-aluminium (AL)-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and aluminium polyethylene (ALPE) was evaluated throughout 49 days of accelerated storage (38°C and 90% relative humidity).

Digitising diabetes education for a safer Ramadan: Design, delivery, and evaluation of massive open online courses in Ramadan-focused diabetes education.

Aims: Ramadan-focused diabetes education is critical to facilitate safer Ramadan fasting amongst Muslim people living with diabetes. We present the design, delivery, and evaluation of two parallel massive open online courses (MOOCs) in Ramadan-focused diabetes education for people with diabetes and HCPs.

Methods: Two Ramadan-focused diabetes education MOOCs were developed and delivered for Ramadan 2023: one for HCPs in English, and another for people with diabetes in English, Arabic and Malay.

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and multidisciplinary care in prostate cancer treatment with ADT: recommendations from the APMA PCCV expert network.

Purpose: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the mainstay approach for prostate cancer (PCa) management. However, the most commonly used ADT modality, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: The PCa Cardiovascular (PCCV) Expert Network, consisting of multinational urologists, cardiologists and oncologists with expertise in managing PCa, convened to discuss challenges to routine cardiovascular risk assessment in PCa management, as well as how to mitigate such risks in the current treatment landscape.

Real or MADE-up: Investigating Mask-Associated Dry Eye (MADE) as an emerging syndrome.

Mask-Associated Dry Eye (MADE) has emerged as a consequence of widespread face mask usage during the Covid-19 pandemic. This review critically assesses the available evidence. A comprehensive search on PUBMED and EMBASE was conducted to identify studies on MADE, which were then categorized based on their design.

Multi-disciplinary community-based group intervention for fibromyalgia: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood disturbances, and cognitive impairment. Most individuals with fibromyalgia experience poorly managed symptoms and increased healthcare service use. Multicomponent therapies, with a focus on nonpharmacological modalities, are increasingly supported in the literature.

Immunomodulatory action of Lactococcuslactis.

Fermented foods are gaining popularity due to health-promoting properties with high levels of nutrients, phytochemicals, bioactive compounds, and probiotic microorganisms. Due to its unique fermentation process, Lactococcus lactis plays a key role in the food business, notably in the manufacturing of dairy products. The superior biological activities of L.

Biophysical Evaluation of Water-Soluble Curcumin Encapsulated in β-Cyclodextrins on Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Curcumin (CUR), a curcuminoid originating from turmeric root, possesses diverse pharmacological applications, including potent anticancer properties. However, the use of this efficacious agent in cancer therapy has been limited due to low water solubility and poor bioavailability. To overcome these problems, a drug delivery system was established as an excipient allowing improved dispersion in aqueous media coupled with enhanced in vitro anticancer effects.

Intraoperative subconjunctival steroid reduces the incidence of pseudophakic macular oedema: a cohort study of 20,066 consecutive phacoemulsification surgeries.

Background/objectives: Pseudophakic macular oedema remains the most common sight-threatening complication following cataract surgery. This study aims to assess the effect of intraoperative subconjunctival steroids on the rate of pseudophakic cystoid macular oedema.

Methods: A retrospective, observational database study of 20 066 consecutive phacoemulsification surgeries.

Current progress in treatment technologies for plastic waste (bisphenol A) in aquatic environment: Occurrence, toxicity and remediation mechanisms.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a type of endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) that is being widely used in the production of polycarbonate and epoxy resins. In the last few years, human exposure to BPA has been extensively high due to the continuous increment in the Annual Growth Rate (AGR) of the BPA global market. The presence and transportation of BPA in the environment could cause serious damage to aquatic life and human health.

Endolysins against Streptococci as an antibiotic alternative.

Multi-drug resistance has called for a race to uncover alternatives to existing antibiotics. Phage therapy is one of the explored alternatives, including the use of endolysins, which are phage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases responsible for bacterial lysis. Endolysins have been extensively researched in different fields, including medicine, food, and agricultural applications.

Effectiveness and Safety of Tofacitinib in Canadian Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Primary Results From a Prospective Observational Study.

Objective: The Canadian Tofacitinib for Rheumatoid Arthritis Observational (CANTORAL) is the first Canadian prospective, observational study assessing tofacitinib. The objective was to assess effectiveness and safety for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Coprimary and secondary outcomes are reported from an interim analysis.

Understanding multidisciplinary care for people with rheumatic disease in British Columbia, Canada, through patients, nurses and physicians voices: a qualitative policy evaluation.

Background: In 2011, the province of British Columbia (BC) moved to allow patients with complex rheumatic disease to be seen by nurses along with their rheumatologist by introducing a 'Multidisciplinary Care Assessments' (MCA) billing code (G31060).

Objective: To describe multidisciplinary care introduced as part of MCAs across BC and investigate the perceived impact of this intervention, the addition of nurses to the care team, on patient care from the perspective of patients, nurses, and rheumatologists.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews, informed by a qualitative evaluation approach with patients, nurses, and rheumatologists from September 2019 - August 2020.

Current Advances and Trends in Targeted Therapies for Colorectal Cancer.

Kirsten Rat Sarcoma () gene somatic point mutations is one of the most prominently mutated proto-oncogenes known to date, and accounts for approximately 60% of all colorectal cancer cases. One of the most exciting drug development areas against colorectal cancer is the targeting of undruggable kinases and kinase-substrate molecules, although whether and how they can be integrated with other therapies remains a question. Current clinical trial data have provided supporting evidence on the use of combination treatment involving MEK inhibitors and either one of the PI3K inhibitors for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to avoid the development of resistance and provide effective therapeutic outcome rather than using a single agent alone.

Development of a single-chain fragment variable fused-mutant HALT-1 recombinant immunotoxin against G12V mutated olorectal cancer cells.

Background: oncogenes harboring codon G12 and G13 substitutions are considered gatekeeper mutations which drive oncogenesis in many cancers. To date, there are still no target-specific vaccines or drugs available against this genotype, thus reinforcing the need towards the development of targeted therapies such as immunotoxins.

Methods: This study aims to develop a recombinant anti-m scFv-fused mutant actinoporin-like-toxin-1 (mHALT-1) immunotoxin that is capable of recognizing and eradicating codon-12 mutated k-ras antigen abnormal cells.

Long-term effectiveness and safety of infliximab and golimumab in ankylosing spondylitis patients from a Canadian prospective observational registry.

Background: The objectives of this study were to describe the profile of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with either infliximab (IFX) or subcutaneous golimumab (GLM) treatment in Canadian routine care setting along with assessing long-term effectiveness and safety.

Methods: AS patients who were eligible for treatment with IFX or subcutaneous GLM as per their respective Canadian product monographs were enrolled into the BioTRAC registry from 2005 to 2017. The study visits occurred at baseline and every 6 months thereafter.

Cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of wildtype and mutated actinoporin-like toxin 1 (HALT-1) on various cancer cell lines.

Background: actinoporin like toxin -1 (HALT-1), is a small 18.5 kDa pore forming toxin derived from which has been shown to elicit strong haemolytic and cytolytic activity when in contact with cell membranes. Due to its cytotoxic potency, HALT-1 was further investigated for its potential as a toxin moiety candidate in immunotoxin developmental efforts, ideally as a form of targeted therapy against cancer.

In silico-guided sequence modifications of K-ras epitopes improve immunological outcome against G12V and G13D mutant antigens.

Background: Somatic point substitution mutations in the proto-oncogene primarily affect codons 12/13 where glycine is converted into other amino acids, and are highly prevalent in pancreatic, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancers. These cohorts are non-responsive to anti-EGFR treatments, and are left with non-specific chemotherapy regimens as their sole treatment options. In the past, the development of peptide vaccines for cancer treatment was reported to have poor AT properties when inducing immune responses.

Developing and Implementing a Community-Based Model of Care for Fibromyalgia: A Feasibility Study.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex disease posing challenges for primary care providers and specialists in its management.

Aim: To evaluate the development and implementation of a comprehensive, integrated, community-based model of care for FM.

Methods: A mixed methods feasibility study was completed in a small urban centre in southern British Columbia, Canada.

Concordance in the Assessment of Effectiveness of Palliative Care between Patients and Palliative Care Nurses in Malaysia: A Study with the Palliative Care Outcome Scale.

Context: The Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS) is an easy-to-use assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of palliative care. There is no published literature on the use of POS as an assessment tool in Malaysia.

Aim: To define the concordance in the assessment of quality of life between patients with advanced cancers and their palliative care nurses using a Malay version of the POS.

Improving acute eye consultations in general practice: a practical approach.

There is significant evidence that patients with acute eye symptoms are poorly assessed in primary care. There is a tendency to diagnose viral or bacterial conjunctivitis in any acutely red eye. This has led to delays in treatment and in some cases, permanent loss of sight.

Lack of cardiovascular risk assessment in inflammatory arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients at a tertiary care center.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate cardiovascular risk assessment at a Canadian rheumatology center and describe the cardiovascular risk of inflammatory arthritis (IA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients using the Framingham risk score. A retrospective chart review of 504 patients attending nine rheumatology practices at the University of Alberta Hospital was performed. A pre-specified case report form detailed patient demographics, cardiac risk factors, variables for the Framingham 2008 score, disease activity, and medication use.