The role of inflammatory gene polymorphisms in severe COVID-19: a review.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has profoundly impacted global healthcare systems and spurred extensive research efforts over the past three years. One critical aspect of the disease is the intricate interplay between the virus and the host immune response, particularly the role of inflammatory gene expression in severe COVID-19. While numerous previous studies have explored the role of genetic polymorphisms in COVID-19, research specifically focusing on inflammatory genes and their associations with disease severity remains limited.

Differential proteomic profiles between cognitive frail and robust older adults from the MELoR cohort.

The present study explored for the first time the blood-based proteomic signature that could potentially distinguish older adults with and without cognitive frailty (CF). The participants were recruited under the Malaysian Elders Longitudinal Research (MELoR) study. Cognition and physical frailty were determined using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Fried's criteria, respectively.

Impact of scoliosis-specific exercises in moderate to severe thoracolumbar curves in three postmenopausal women.

[Purpose] The study investigates whether performing scoliosis-specific exercises is related to curve stabilization in postmenopausal women with a thoracolumbar curve. [Case Description] We describe the outcome of three postmenopausal women with thoracolumbar scoliosis performing scoliosis-specific exercises for around ten years. Case 1 had a normal bone mineral density and thoracolumbar scoliosis over 64° and consistently performed the exercises at home for half an hour daily.

A digital health-supported and community pharmacy-based lifestyle intervention program for adults with pre-diabetes: a study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Pre-diabetes indicates an elevated risk of developing type-2 diabetes and presents a window for preventive actions. The Pre-diabetes Intervention, Management and Evaluation (PRIME) programme is a community pharmacy-based pre-diabetes management programme that uses a mobile application for self-monitoring and pre-diabetes education, aiming to promote lifestyle changes among participants with pre-diabetes.

Methods And Analysis: This is a protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial that aims to evaluate the impact of the PRIME programme on participants' clinical outcomes and explore participants' and pharmacists' views towards its implementation.

Piloting a scale-up platform for high-quality human T-cells production.

Cell and gene therapies are an innovative solution to various severe diseases and unfulfilled needs. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), a form of cellular immunotherapies, has been favored in recent years due to the approval of chimeric antigen receptor CAR-T products. Market research indicates that the industry's value is predicted to reach USD 24.

Endodontic sequelae associated with repetitive impacts to the dentofacial region during boxing activities.

Aim: To explore self-reported dentofacial trauma and their potential endodontic sequelae in boxers using a questionnaire, followed by clinical and radiographic assessment to (1) compare the nature and number of self-reported dentofacial injuries with physical evidence of injury sequelae; and (2) investigate potential risk factors influencing dentofacial trauma and their endodontic sequelae.

Methodology: A focus group validated questionnaire was completed by 176 boxers recruited from 16 London boxing clubs; 61 boxers from this cohort then attended a London dental hospital, for a clinical and radiographic assessment. Data from the questionnaire and clinical assessments were then collated and analysed using Chi-squared or t-tests.

The proteogenomic landscape of multiple myeloma reveals insights into disease biology and therapeutic opportunities.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy of the bone marrow. Despite therapeutic advances, MM remains incurable, and better risk stratification as well as new therapies are therefore highly needed. The proteome of MM has not been systematically assessed before and holds the potential to uncover insight into disease biology and improved prognostication in addition to genetic and transcriptomic studies.

Between Technological Utopia and Dystopia: Online Expression of Compulsory Use of Surveillance Technology.

This study investigated people's ethical concerns of surveillance technology. By adopting the spectrum of technological utopian and dystopian narratives, how people perceive a society constructed through the compulsory use of surveillance technology was explored. This study empirically examined the anonymous online expression of attitudes toward the society-wide, compulsory adoption of a contact tracing app that affected almost every aspect of all people's everyday lives at a societal level.

Clinical Implementation of Total-Body PET in China.

Total-body (TB) PET/CT is a groundbreaking tool that has brought about a revolution in both clinical application and scientific research. The transformative impact of TB PET/CT in the realms of clinical practice and scientific exploration has been steadily unfolding since its introduction in 2018, with implications for its implementation within the health care landscape of China. TB PET/CT's exceptional sensitivity enables the acquisition of high-quality images in significantly reduced time frames.

Preoperative free access to water compared to fasting for planned cesarean under spinal anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Contemporary guidance for preoperative feeding allows solids up to 6 hours and clear fluids up to 2 hours before anesthesia. Clinical trial evidence to support this approach for cesarean delivery is lacking. Many medical practitioners continue to follow conservative policies of no intake from midnight to the time of surgery, especially in pregnant women.

A comparison of radiographically determined periapical healing and tooth survival outcomes of root canal (re)treatment performed in two care pathways within the United Kingdom Armed Forces.

Aims: To compare radiographic periapical healing and tooth survival outcomes of root canal (re)treatment performed within two care pathways (Routine Dental Care and Referred Treatment Pathway), in the United Kingdom Armed Forces (UKAF), and determine the effects of endodontic complexity on outcomes.

Methodology: This retrospective cohort study included 1466 teeth in 1252 personnel who received root canal (re)treatment between 2015 and 2020. General Dental Practitioners treated 661 teeth (573 patients) (Routine cohort), whilst Dentists with a Special Interest treated 805 teeth (678 patients) (Referred cohort).

Preliminary insight on diarylpentanoids as potential antimalarials: In silico, in vitro LDH and in vivo zebrafish toxicity assessment.

Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide, including in Southeast Asia. Chemotherapeutic agents such as chloroquine (CQ) are effective, but problems with drug resistance and toxicity have necessitated a continuous search for new effective antimalarial agents. Here we report on a virtual screening of ∼300 diarylpentanoids and derivatives, in search of potential lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) inhibitors with acceptable drug-like properties.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of hydantoin derivatives as potent antiplasmodial agents.

Malaria, a devastating disease, has claimed numerous lives and caused considerable suffering, with young children and pregnant women being the most severely affected group. However, the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium and the adverse side effects associated with existing antimalarial drugs underscore the urgent need for the development of novel, well-tolerated, and more efficient drugs to combat this global health threat. To address these challenges, six new hydantoins derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiplasmodial activity.

The efficacy of short acquisition time using F-FDG total-body PET/CT for the identification of pediatric epileptic foci.

Background: F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) plays a crucial part in the evaluation for pediatric epileptic patients prior to therapy. Short-term scanning holds significant importance, especially for pediatrics epileptic individuals who exhibited involuntary movements. The aim was to evaluate the effects of short acquisition time on image quality and lesion detectability in pediatric epileptic patients using total-body (TB) PET/CT.

Kinetic analysis of cardiac dynamic F-Florbetapir PET in healthy volunteers and amyloidosis patients: A pilot study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the potential of full dynamic PET kinetic analysis in assessing amyloid binding and perfusion in the cardiac region using F-Florbetapir PET, establishing a quantitative approach in the clinical assessment of cardiac amyloidosis disease.

Materials & Methods: The distribution volume ratios (DVRs) and the relative transport rate constant (R), were estimated by a pseudo-simplified reference tissue model (pSRTM2) and pseudo-Logan plot (pLogan plot) with kidney reference for the region of interest-based and voxel-wise-based analyses. The parametric images generated using the pSRTM2 and linear regression with spatially constrained (LRSC) algorithm were then evaluated.

Direct-to-biology, automated, nano-scale synthesis, and phenotypic screening-enabled E3 ligase modulator discovery.

Thalidomide and its analogs are molecular glues (MGs) that lead to targeted ubiquitination and degradation of key cancer proteins via the cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase. Here, we develop a direct-to-biology (D2B) approach for accelerated discovery of MGs. In this platform, automated, high throughput, and nano scale synthesis of hundreds of pomalidomide-based MGs was combined with rapid phenotypic screening, enabling an unprecedented fast identification of potent CRBN-acting MGs.

Leveraging Ligand Affinity and Properties: Discovery of Novel Benzamide-Type Cereblon Binders for the Design of PROTACs.

Immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) such as thalidomide, pomalidomide, and lenalidomide are the most common cereblon (CRBN) recruiters in proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) design. However, these CRBN ligands induce the degradation of IMiD neosubstrates and are inherently unstable, degrading hydrolytically under moderate conditions. In this work, we simultaneously optimized physiochemical properties, stability, on-target affinity, and off-target neosubstrate modulation features to develop novel nonphthalimide CRBN binders.

Assessing dynamic metabolic heterogeneity in prostate cancer patients via total-body [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging: quantitative analysis of [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in pathological lesions and normal organs.

Purpose: This study aimed to quantitatively assess [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in pathological lesions and normal organs in prostate cancer using the total-body [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and to characterize the dynamic metabolic heterogeneity of prostate cancer.

Methods: Dynamic total-body [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT scans were performed on ten prostate cancer patients. Manual delineation of volume-of-interests (VOIs) was performed on multiple normal organs displaying high [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 uptake, as well as pathological lesions.

Comparison of parametric imaging and SUV imaging with [ Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 using dynamic total-body PET/CT in prostate cancer.

Purpose: Standardized uptake value (SUV) has been prevalently used to measure [ Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 activity in prostate cancer, but it is susceptible to multiple factors. Parametric imaging allows for absolute quantification of tracer uptake and provides a better diagnostic accuracy that is crucial for lesion detection. However, the clinical significance of total-body parametric imaging of [ Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 remains to be fully assessed.

The feasibility of quantitative assessment of dynamic F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET in Takayasu's arteritis: a pilot study.

Purpose: PET has been demonstrated to be sensitive for detecting active inflammation in Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) patients, but semi-quantitative-based assessment may be susceptible to various biological and technical factors. Absolute quantification via dynamic PET (dPET) may provide a more reliable and quantitative assessment of TAK-active arteries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of dPET in quantifying TAK-active arteries compared to static PET.

Improved [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 image qualities reconstructed by total variation regularized expectation maximization on total-body PET/CT.

Background: Total variation regularized expectation maximization (TVREM) reconstruction algorithm on the image quality of gallium (GA) prostate-specific membrane antigen-11 ([Ga]Ga-PSMA-11) total-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods: Images of a phantom with small hot sphere inserts and the total-body PET/CT scans of 51 prostate cancer patients undergoing [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 were reconstructed using TVREM with 5 different penalization factors between 0.09 and 0.

The association of diffusion tensor MRI measures of normal appearing white matter and cognition.

Objective: Median and peak height of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) are diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) markers used to quantify white matter microstructure changes. We examine the association of DTI histogram-derived measures in global normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and cognitive decline in patients with normal cognition and cognitive impairment no dementia from a memory clinic in Singapore.

Methods: A total of 252 patients (mean age: 71.