In vivo pharmacokinetic study and PBPK modeling: Comparison between 3D-printed nanocrystals and solid dispersions.

The solubility of drugs remains one of the most challenging aspects of formulation development. Several technologies exist to enhance the properties of poorly soluble drugs, with nanocrystal (NC) and solid dispersion (SD) technologies being among the most important. This work compared NCs and SDs under identical conditions using albendazole as a model drug and 3D printing technology as the delivery method.

Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess the Usability of and User Experience with Mobile Health Applications.

Background/objectives: The growing use of mobile health (mHealth) applications needs reliable tools to assess their usability and user experience in clinical practice to improve the digital health (eHealth) interventions and ensure engagement, as higher engagement is often linked to increased efficacy of healthcare interventions. This study aimed to validate the patient Satisfaction and Usability with APPs questionnaire (pSUAPP), a multidimensional tool designed for the comprehensive assessment of mHealth applications, particularly for the integrated follow-up of patients with chronic diseases.

Methods: A validation study was conducted between August and December 2022 with 85 participants from two hospitals in Spain, who completed the pSUAPP questionnaire, comprising 27 Likert-like items across four dimensions: first contact, registration, features and overall experience, and 1 open question.

Targeted lung cancer screening in the age of immunotherapies and targeted therapies - an economic evaluation for Australia.

Background: The cost-effectiveness of different lung cancer screening strategies has been evaluated from an Australian public health system perspective using static models. In addition, the impact of novel therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapies, on the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening has not yet been evaluated comprehensively. We evaluated the benefits, harms and cost-effectiveness of a targeted national lung screening program in Australia, accounting for the increasing uptake of novel therapies, which informed the lung cancer screening recommendations of the Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).

3D-Printed Plasmonic Nanocomposites: VAT Photopolymerization for Photothermal-Controlled Drug Release.

Background: Gold nanoparticles can generate heat upon exposure to radiation due to their plasmonic properties, which depend on particle size and shape. This enables precise control over the release of active substances from polymeric pharmaceutical formulations, minimizing side effects and premature release. The technology of 3D printing, especially vat photopolymerization, is valuable for integrating nanoparticles into complex formulations.

Modeling and evaluation of ivermectin release kinetics from 3D-printed tablets.

This study focused on evaluating the influence of geometric dimensions on the drug release kinetics of 3D-printed tablets. An ink based on Gelucire 50/13 was prepared to print ivermectin-loaded tablets. The ink was characterized physicochemically and tablet dissolution tests were carried out.

Knowledge related to breast cancer screening programs by physicians in Brazil.

Background: Antonini et al. evaluated gynecologists', obstetricians', and family and community physicians knowledge of breast cancer screening and their adherence to recommendations defined by the BI-RADS™ system. The study demonstrated that inadequate training resulted in insufficient screening and failure to follow the protocols recommended by the BIRADS™ system.

Clinical implications of cytomegalovirus in glioblastoma progression and therapy.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the deadliest brain cancers with a median survival of only 15 months. This poor prognosis has prompted exploration of novel therapeutic targets for GBM patients. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been implicated in GBM; however, its impact remains poorly defined, and there is conflicting data over the presence of HCMV in tumors.

Safety of the Immediate Reconstitution of Poly-l-Lactic Acid for Facial and Body Treatment-A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA-SCA; Sculptra) was approved in 1999 in Europe and 2004 in United States as a collagen biostimulator. It is a freeze-dried preparation containing 150 mg PLLA-SCA per vial and, since approval, has been recommended to be reconstituted 72 h before treatment, which can hinder its use in clinical practice. In 2021, the manufacturer authorized the reconstitution of PLLA-SCA immediately before use.

Persistence, effectiveness, and tolerability of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies in patients with chronic migraine.

Objective: To evaluate, in patients with chronic migraine (CM) in real-world conditions, the persistence, effectiveness, and tolerability of erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (anti-CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and the persistence and effects of switching.

Background: Anti-CGRP mAbs represent a novel therapeutic approach to the management of CM; however, real-world data on persistence, effectiveness, and tolerability, especially after switching, are scarce.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational cohort study including all patients with CM treated with erenumab, fremanezumab, and/or galcanezumab in a tertiary hospital between January 2019 and December 2022.

Modulation of blood-tumor barrier transcriptional programs improves intra-tumoral drug delivery and potentiates chemotherapy in GBM.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. GBM has an extremely poor prognosis and new treatments are badly needed. Efficient drug delivery to GBM is a major obstacle as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents passage of the majority of cancer drugs into the brain.

Water availability and biological interactions shape amphibian abundance and diversity in Mediterranean temporary rivers.

Amphibians, the most threatened vertebrates globally, face risks due to climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation. Their sensitivity to environmental changes highlights their importance as ecological indicators. Temporary rivers, influenced by geological, climatic, and anthropogenic factors, play a critical role in shaping biodiversity and community structure.

Organic solvent-free benznidazole nanosuspension as an approach to a novel pediatric formulation for Chagas disease.

Benznidazole (BNZ), a class-II drug, is the primary treatment for Chagas disease, but its low aqueous solubility presents challenges in formulation and efficacy. Nanosuspensions (NS) could potentially address these issues. BNZ-NS were prepared using a simple, organic solvents-free nano-milling approach.

3D printed benznidazole tablets based on an interpolyelectrolyte complex by melting solidification printing process (MESO-PP): An innovative strategy for personalized treatment of Chagas disease.

3D printing technology is revolutionizing pharmaceuticals, offering tailored solutions for solid dosage forms. This innovation is particularly significant for conditions like Chagas disease, which require weight-dependent treatments. In this work, a formulation of benznidazole (BNZ), the primary treatment for this infection, was developed to be utilized with the Melting Solidification Printing Process (MESO-PP) 3D printing technique.

Assessing the role of habitat, climate, and anthropization gradients on terrestrial mammal diversity in the western Mediterranean basin.

Mammal species globally exhibit distribution patterns conditioned by environmental conditions and human impact. The Mediterranean basin provides an ideal system to study these effects due to its diverse climate, and habitat conditions. In this work, we aim to assess the impact of landscape heterogeneity and anthropization degree on terrestrial mammal diversity in this region.

3D printed scaffolds as delivery devices for nanocrystals: A proof of concept loading Atorvastatin with enhanced properties for sublingual route of administration.

Increasing the solubility of drugs is a recurrent objective of pharmaceutical research, and one of the most widespread strategies today is the formulation of nanocrystals (NCs). Beyond the many advantages of formulating NCs, their incorporation into solid dosage forms remains a challenge that limits their use. In this work, we set out to load Atorvastatin NCs (ATV-NCs) in a delivery device by combining 3D scaffolds with an "in situ" loading method such as freeze-drying.

Kinetic Study of Anaerobic Adhesive Curing on Copper and Iron Base Substrates.

Anaerobic adhesives (AAs) cure at room temperature in oxygen-deprived spaces between metal substrates. The curing process is significantly influenced by the type of metal ions present. This study investigates the curing kinetics of a high-strength AA on iron and copper substrates using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Machine Learning Model in Obesity to Predict Weight Loss One Year after Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a treatment for severe obesity. However, many patients have insufficient total weight loss (TWL) after RYGB. Although multiple factors have been involved, their influence is incompletely known.

Diabetic foot disease carries an intrinsic high risk of mortality and other severe outcomes in type 2 diabetes: a propensity score-matched retrospective population-based study.

Background: To evaluate the association between diabetic foot disease (DFD) and the incidence of fatal and non-fatal events in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) from primary-care settings.

Methods: We built a cohort of people with a first DFD episode during 2010-2015, followed up until 2018. These subjects were 1 to 1 propensity score matched to subjects with T2DM without DFD.

Clinical Validation of Digital Healthcare Solutions: State of the Art, Challenges and Opportunities.

Digital health technologies (DHTs) at the intersection of health, medical informatics, and business aim to enhance patient care through personalised digital approaches. Ensuring the efficacy and reliability of these innovations demands rigorous clinical validation. A PubMed literature review (January 2006 to July 2023) identified 1250 papers, highlighting growing academic interest.

Sex and age significantly modulate cardiovascular disease presentation in type 2 diabetes: a large population-based cohort study.

Aims: We aimed to describe and compare the incidence of the first cardiovascular event and its major subtypes, coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, heart failure (HF), or peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to age and sex in a population-based cohort of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) from a Mediterranean region.

Material And Methods: We used linked primary care electronic medical reports, pharmacy-invoicing data, and hospital admission disease registry records from the SIDIAP database, which contains linked data for 74% of the Catalonian population. We selected individuals with T2D aged 30 to 89 years free of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Rotational order-disorder and spin crossover behaviour in a neutral iron(II) complex based on asymmetrically substituted large planar ionogenic ligand.

Octahedrally coordinated spin crossover (SCO) Fe complexes represent an important class of switchable molecular materials. This study presents the synthesis and characterisation of a novel complex, [Fe(ppt-2Fph)]·2MeOH, where ppt-2Fph is a new asymmetric ionogenic tridentate planar ligand 2-(5-(2-fluorophenyl)-4-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-6-(1-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine. The complex exhibits a hysteretic thermally induced SCO transition at 285 K on cooling and at 293 K on heating, as well as light induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) at lower temperatures with a relaxation (LIESST) temperature of 73 K.

Wear Behavior of Epoxy Resin Reinforced with Ceramic Nano- and Microparticles.

Cavitation erosion poses a significant challenge in fluid systems like hydraulic turbines and ship propellers due to pulsed pressure from collapsing vapor bubbles. To combat this, various materials and surface engineering methods are employed. In this study, nano and micro scale particles of silicon carbide (SiC) or boron carbide (BC) were incorporated as reinforcement at 6% and 12% ratios, owing to their exceptional resistance to abrasive wear and high hardness.

SEA 2024 Standards for Global Control of Vascular Risk.

One of the objectives of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis is to contribute to the knowledge, prevention and treatment of vascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Spain and entail a high degree of disability and health expenditure. Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease and its prevention requires a global approach that takes into account the associated risk factors. This document summarises the current evidence and includes recommendations for patients with established vascular disease or at high vascular risk: it reviews the symptoms and signs to evaluate, the laboratory and imaging procedures to request routinely or in special situations, and includes the estimation of vascular risk, diagnostic criteria for entities that are vascular risk factors, and general and specific recommendations for their treatment.

Relation Between Ultrasonographic Measurements of the Biceps Brachii and Total Muscle Mass in Older Hospitalized Persons: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: To assess the link between ultrasonographic measurements of the biceps brachii and total muscle mass measured by bio-impedancemetry in hospitalized older patients.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted. The study included patients older than 65 years admitted in internal medicine, acute geriatrics, orthogeriatrics and rehabilitation departments.