Long-term renal and cardiovascular risks of tacrolimus in patients with lupus nephritis.

Background: Despite continuous advancement, treatment of lupus nephritis (LN) remains challenging. Recent guidelines now include a regimen incorporating tacrolimus as a first-line treatment option. Even though tacrolimus is effective in combination with mycophenolate and corticosteroids, concerns remain regarding long-term use, given its association with increased cardiovascular risks including nephrotoxicity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia in kidney transplant recipients.

Image-guided drug delivery in nanosystem-based cancer therapies.

The past decades have shown significant advancements in the development of solid tumor treatment. For instance, implementation of nanosystems for drug delivery has led to a reduction in side effects and improved delivery to the tumor region. However, clinical translation has faced challenges, as tumor drug levels are still considered to be inadequate.

Sleep assessment in critically ill adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To systematically review sleep evaluation, characterize sleep disruption, and explore effects of sleepdisruption on outcomes in adult ICU patients.

Materials And Methods: We systematically searched databases from May 1969 to June 2021 (PROSPERO protocol number: CRD42020175581). Prospective and retrospective studies were included studying sleep in critically ill adults, excluding patients with sleep or psychiatric disorders.

Preclinical Studies in Small Animals for Advanced Drug Delivery Using Hyperthermia and Intravital Microscopy.

This paper presents three devices suitable for the preclinical application of hyperthermia via the simultaneous high-resolution imaging of intratumoral events. (Pre)clinical studies have confirmed that the tumor micro-environment is sensitive to the application of local mild hyperthermia. Therefore, heating is a promising adjuvant to aid the efficacy of radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

External Basic Hyperthermia Devices for Preclinical Studies in Small Animals.

Preclinical studies have shown that application of mild hyperthermia (40-43 °C) is a promising adjuvant to solid tumor treatment. To improve preclinical testing, enhance reproducibility, and allow comparison of the obtained results, it is crucial to have standardization of the available methods. Reproducibility of methods in and between research groups on the same techniques is crucial to have a better prediction of the clinical outcome and to improve new treatment strategies (for instance with heat-sensitive nanoparticles).

Performance of PEEK based telescopic crowns, a comparative study.

Objective: Telescopic crowns are suitable components of partial dentures to efficiently anchor dental supra-structures to teeth or dental implants and achieve high chewing performance and wear comfort. Usually alloy- or metal-based structures are used for the primary and the secondary crowns. The advantage is the possibility to produce precise structures with a high perfection and sufficient friction force, but the disadvantage is the corrosion instability.

Fibre supply for breeding sows and its effects on social behaviour in group-housed sows and performance during lactation.

Background: Fibre sources as feed components with specific physical characteristics like a high swelling capacity (SC), viscosity and water-binding capacity (WBC) have been discussed to affect sow behaviour and to have long-term effects on lactational performance. The present studies aim to analyse the effects of different fibre sources in diets for sows on behaviour in gestation, reproductive performance as well as piglet development.

Methods: Twenty-eight feedingstuffs (four grain varieties, 16 by-products, three oilseeds and five leguminous plants) were compared concerning swelling capacity, viscosity and water binding capacity to select fibre sources with optimal physical characteristics.

Factors Associated With Batterer Intervention Program Attrition.

Batterer intervention programs' (BIPs) curriculum have been criticized for their one-size-fits-all approach to rehabilitation with recent research suggesting specialized and client-centric approaches to batterer intervention may be more effective than traditional programming. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been examined as a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and numerous studies suggest a relationship between ACEs and low mental health treatment engagement. However, absent from the conversation is how ACEs may influence BIP treatment engagement and more specifically how ACEs influence BIP program attendance and attrition.

Hyaluronan-based dissolving microneedles with high antigen content for intradermal vaccination: Formulation, physicochemical characterization and immunogenicity assessment.

The purpose of this study was to optimize the manufacturing of dissolving microneedles (dMNs) and to increase the antigen loading in dMNs to investigate the effect on their physicochemical properties. To achieve this, a novel single-array wells polydimethylsiloxane mold was designed, minimizing antigen wastage during fabrication and achieving homogeneous antigen distribution among the dMN arrays. Using this mold, hyaluronan (HA)-based dMNs were fabricated and tested for maximal ovalbumin (OVA) content.

Predictors of Standard Follow-Up Completion after Sexual Exposure to HIV: Five-Year Retrospective Analysis in a French HIV-Infection Care Center.

Objectives: The care of exposed individuals to HIV remains a challenge regarding follow-up completion and HIV-testing of the partner. Identifying patients with risk of not fulfilling HIV-testing follow-up completion (FC), among patients demanding non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP), may improve clinical practice.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in a single French HIV-infection care center.

Treatment Access Barriers and Disparities Among Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: An Integrative Literature Review.

The purpose of this integrative review is to examine and synthesize extant literature pertaining to barriers to substance abuse and mental health treatment for persons with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders (COD). Electronic searches were conducted using ten scholarly databases. Thirty-six articles met inclusion criteria and were examined for this review.

Barriers and Facilitators to Substance Use Treatment in the Rural South: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: Little qualitative research has examined factors associated with care in substance abuse treatment agencies in Southeastern rural communities. This study explored client- and agency stakeholder-perceived barriers and facilitators to substance use treatment delivery in southeastern rural communities.

Methods: Group and individual interviews were conducted with 40 key stakeholders and 40 clients at 9 substance abuse agencies serving rural communities in a southeastern state.

Lovastatin and perillyl alcohol inhibit glioma cell invasion, migration, and proliferation--impact of Ras-/Rho-prenylation.

Alterations in small GTPase mediated signal transduction pathways have emerged as a central step in the molecular pathogenesis of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) are derived from mevalonate, whose production is catalyzed by 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. Prenylation by FPP and GGPP is required for membrane insertion and oncogenic function of Ras- and Rho-proteins, within the stimulation of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway.

Bone mineral density changes after 2 years of ARV treatment, compared to naive HIV-1-infected patients not on HAART.

Background: The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis is increased in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The pathogenesis of this low bone mineral density (BMD) is multifactorial.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study over a 2-year period of the BMD in non-treated ARV-naïve HIV-infected-males, in comparison to HIV-infected males commencing a first ARV treatment, and analyzed the evolution of bone turnover markers.

Efficacy and safety of switching to raltegravir plus atazanavir dual therapy in pretreated HIV-1-infected patients over 144 weeks: a cohort study.

Background: To decrease drug burden among HIV-1-positive adults, we need a new gold standard for antiretroviral therapy maintenance strategies.

Methods: This retrospective study aimed to assess efficacy in maintenance strategy of atazanavir (ATV) and raltegravir (RAL) dual therapy. The proportion of patients with HIV-1 RNA < 40 copies/ml at specific time points was recorded.

Switching to emtricitabine, tenofovir and rilpivirine as single tablet regimen in virologically suppressed HIV-1-infected patients: a cohort study.

Objectives: Emtricitabine/tenofovir/rilpivirine as a single-tablet regimen (STR) is widely used without licence in treatment-experienced patients. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to assess viral suppression of ART-experienced patients switching to STR.

Methods: We assessed 131 pretreated patients switching to STR with HIV RNA <400 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL.

STAT3 silencing inhibits glioma single cell infiltration and tumor growth.

Background: Diffuse infiltration remains the fulcrum of glioblastoma's incurability, leading inevitably to recurrence. Therefore, uncovering the pathological mechanism is imperative. Because signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) correlates with glioma malignancy and predicts poor clinical outcome, we determined its role in glioma single cell infiltration and tumor growth.

Dietary curcumin attenuates glioma growth in a syngeneic mouse model by inhibition of the JAK1,2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Purpose: Glioblastomas are the most common and most deadly primary brain tumors. Here, we evaluated the chemotherapeutic effect of the natural polyphenol curcumin on glioma cells in vitro and in vivo using an immunocompetent orthotopic mouse model.

Experimental Design: Curcumin's effects on proliferation, cell cycle, migration, invasion, JAK/STAT3 signaling, STAT3 target gene expression, and STAT3C rescue experiments were determined in murine glioma cell lines in vitro.

The nontoxic natural compound Curcumin exerts anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive properties against malignant gliomas.

Background: New drugs are constantly sought after to improve the survival of patients with malignant gliomas. The ideal substance would selectively target tumor cells without eliciting toxic side effects. Here, we report on the anti-proliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive properties of the natural, nontoxic compound Curcumin observed in five human glioblastoma (GBM) cell lines in vitro.

Inhibition of the JAK-2/STAT3 signaling pathway impedes the migratory and invasive potential of human glioblastoma cells.

The objective of current treatment strategies for glioblastoma (GBM) is cytoreduction. Unfortunately, the deleterious migratory and invasive behavior of glial tumors remains largely unattended. The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is known to be involved in the development and progression of many different tumor types, including malignant gliomas.

A retrospective, descriptive, exploratory study evaluating incidence of postoperative urinary retention after spinal anesthesia and its effect on PACU discharge.

Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a common problem that occurs at rates ranging from 7% to 52%. It is uncertain exactly what patient-related or surgery factors may influence POUR. This retrospective, descriptive, exploratory study of 102 patients examined the incidence of POUR, its impact on length-of-stay, and the patient/procedural characteristics that are associated with POUR.

Virologic response of zidovudine, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate combination in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients.

Background: High rates of virologic failure have been reported in antiretroviral-naive patients receiving triple-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) combinations containing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with lamivudine (3TC) and didanosine or 3TC and abacavir (ABC). A regimen of once-daily zidovudine (ZDV), 3TC, ABC, and TDF showed an acceptable virologic success rate, however.

Methods: This was a pilot prospective cohort study.

Packing fractions and maximum angles of stability of granular materials.

In two-dimensional rotating drum experiments, we find two separate influences of the packing fraction of a granular heap on its stability. For a fixed grain shape, the stability increases with packing fraction. However, in determining the relative stability of different grain shapes, those with the lowest average packing fractions tend to form the most stable heaps.

[Hepatitis A seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients].

Objective: The authors had for aim to prospectively study the hepatitis A seroprevalence of an HIV-infected population, followed-up in an outpatient clinic (CISIH Strasbourg).

Design: Blood tests were performed on all patients from September 2003 to March 2004 to screen for hepatitis A (total antibodies with Elisa).

Results: The overall seroprevalence was 219/514 (56.

Tolerance of a short course of nevirapine, associated with 2 nucleoside analogues, in postexposure prophylaxis of HIV.

A combination of 2 nucleoside analogues and 1 protease inhibitor is usually recommended in postexposure prophylaxis. Because of the complex treatment schedule and frequent adverse effects, however, this regimen is often not completed. Therefore, since January 2000, we have used nevirapine (NVP), 200 mg/d, for only 4 days in combination with 2 nucleoside analogues for 1 month to improve adherence and completion rates.