Nuclear Factor Kappa B p65: A Possible Biomarker for Persistent Inflammation in HIV-1 Infection?

Low-grade inflammation in people living with HIV (PWH) has become a significant contributor to the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, and renal dysfunction. Though antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced mortality by limiting the emergence of opportunistic infections, it has not been successful in eliminating the remaining chronic, low-grade inflammation and activation that persists in the infected despite viral suppression and better CD4+ T cell count. Nonetheless, this relatively asymptomatic and subclinical chronic inflammation remains poorly understood and has become a major contributor to mortality in PWH.

Silent risk: the vertical transmission of Oropouche virus.

The Oropouche virus (OROV), a member of the Orthobunyavirus genus, poses a significant public health challenge due to its potential for vertical transmission and lack of approved vaccines or antiviral treatments. Recent outbreaks have highlighted the association of OROV infection in pregnant women with severe outcomes, including spontaneous abortions, congenital anomalies, and fetal deaths. This letter to the editor emphasizes the need for a multifaceted approach to address the potential for vertical transmission of OROV, including the use of small animal models, detailed pathological studies, and robust preventive measures.

Star-polymer unimolecular micelle nanoparticles to deliver a payload across the blood-brain barrier.

Nanocarrier-mediated therapeutic delivery to brain tissue is impeded by tightly controlled transportation across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Herein, we report a well-defined core-shell star-shaped unimolecular micelle (star-UMM; a single polymer entity) as an efficient BBB-breaching nanoparticle for brain-specific administration of the fluorescent anticancer drug doxorubicin and mapping of brain tissues by the near-infrared biomarker IR780 in mice. The star-UMM was engineered by precisely programming the polymer topology having hydrophobic and hydrophilic polycaprolactone blocks and in-built with lysosomal enzyme-biodegradation stimuli to deliver the payloads at intracellular compartments.

Optimizing psychiatric social work interventions: Formulating guidelines for mental health settings.

Background: Psychiatric social workers typically play an important role in the treatment and management of psychosocial issues at different levels, such as individual, family, and community levels. However, despite the field having a long history, there are significantly fewer standardized guidelines for interventions in mental health settings.

Methodology: This study aims to develop guidelines for psychiatric social work interventions in mental health settings.

Ensuring Transfusion Safety: Screening Blood Donors for Human Parvovirus B19.

Ensuring the safety of blood and blood products is a vital aspect of healthcare. The potential for transmission of pathogens through blood and blood products makes transfusion safety a significant concern. Despite advancements in testing methodologies, donated blood products still pose a risk for infection transmission.