Lower Risk of Death and Kidney Failure Associated with Higher Target (vs. Below-Target) Doses of RAS Inhibitors in Octogenarians with HFrEF.

Background: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASIs) at higher target doses reduce the risk of death in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Less is known about their effectiveness in octogenarians, the examination of which was the objective of this study.

Methods: Of 32,964 Veterans ≥80 years with HFrEF (ejection fraction ≤40%) receiving RASIs, 6655 received target-dose.

Authentication and Quality Control of the Brazilian Traditional Herb 'Carquejas' ( Species) Using Morpho-Anatomy and Microscopy.

This research investigates the morpho-anatomical characteristics of seven species, namely , , , , , and . Commonly called carquejas, these species have aerial photosynthetic winged stems known as cladodes and are widely used traditionally to treat digestive and diuretic disorders. This study aimed to characterize these commonly misidentified species using morphological and microscopic techniques, including light and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

ChatGPT-4 extraction of heart failure symptoms and signs from electronic health records.

Background: Natural language processing (NLP) can facilitate research utilizing data from electronic health records (EHRs). Large language models can potentially improve NLP applications leveraging EHR notes. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of zero-shot learning using Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 (ChatGPT-4) for extraction of symptoms and signs, and compare its performance to baseline machine learning and rule-based methods developed using annotated data.

Deep Learning for Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis: A Graph Neural Network (GNN) Based Classification Approach with Graph Wavelet Transform (GWT) Using Protein-Peptide Datasets.

An important neurological disorder of Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by motor and non-motor activity of the patients. Empirical condition of the patient: PD assessment uses the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Rating Scale part III (MDS-UPDRS-III) measures for identifying the prediction of PD. Due to the unstable value of the measurement, the PD prediction and tracking lead to a lower prediction rate.

"Sterile hypopyon following pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection".

Purpose: To report five cases of post-operative sterile endophthalmitis in patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection for retinal detachment.

Methods: Review of the medical records of five patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection at Southend University Hospital and the Royal Eye Infirmary, Derriford Hospital for rhegmatogenous or tractional retinal detachment.

Results: All five patients presented with signs of anterior chamber inflammation exhibiting flare, fibrin and hypopyon in the early or late post-operative period following vitrectomy with silicone oil injection.

Targeting RNA helicase DDX3X with a small molecule inhibitor for breast cancer bone metastasis treatment.

Patients who present with breast cancer bone metastasis only have limited palliative treatment strategies and efficacious drug treatments are needed. In breast cancer patient data, high levels of the RNA helicase DDX3 are associated with poor overall survival and bone metastasis. Consequently, our objective was to target DDX3 in a mouse breast cancer bone metastasis model using a small molecule inhibitor of DDX3, RK-33.

The Evolving Stethoscope: Insights Derived from Studying Phonocardiography in Trainees.

Phonocardiography (PCG) is used as an adjunct to teach cardiac auscultation and is now a function of PCG-capable stethoscopes (PCS). To evaluate the efficacy of PCG and PCS, the authors investigated the impact of providing PCG data and PCSs on how frequently murmurs, rubs, and gallops (MRGs) were correctly identified by third-year medical students. Following their internal medicine rotation, third-year medical students from the Georgetown University School of Medicine completed a standardized auscultation assessment.

Chemical, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Properties of Four Different Endodontic Sealer Leachates Over Time.

Introduction: The management of apical periodontitis involves the elimination of bacteria to achieve healing of the periapical tissues. To this end, understanding of the antimicrobial properties and cytotoxicity of root canal sealers over time is important. This study aimed to assess the cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity of leachates obtained from selected endodontic sealers.

A Pilot Survey of Indian Stakeholders: Parents, Doctors, and Grown-Up Patients of Disorders of Sexual Differentiation on Management Decisions and Associated Gender Dysphoria.

Background And Aims: Of late, there are many legal representations from select quarters to halt all medical interventions in children with differences of sex development (DSD). In this survey on management decisions in DSD, we distil the views of Indian stakeholders: parents, physicians, and grown-up patients with DSD on their management decisions to identify decisional satisfaction or gender dysphoria.

Methods: The survey domains included the patient demographics, final diagnosis, decision on the sex of rearing, surgical interventions, opinion of the stakeholders on the preferred age of sex assignment, final sex of rearing, and agreement/disagreement about sex assignment (gender dysphoria).

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Cyclic Voltammetry Behavior of Substitution of Zinc and Cobalt in BiFeO/BiFeO for Supercapacitor Applications.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become indispensable tools across various disciplines in the present century. In that way, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in energy storage devices was investigated. As a preliminary study, the data derived from electrochemical studies were used for the prediction.

From home to health: Telerehabilitation's contribution to physical activity and quality of life in young adult teleworkers.

Background: The global implementation of full-time telework became widespread during the new normal conditions following the pandemic, resulting in reduced physical activity (PA) among teleworkers and young adults. It is vital to comprehend how telehealth interventions favorably impact PA levels and overall well-being of young adults who face increasingly blurred boundaries between work and home life.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of telerehabilitation (TR) on PA levels and quality of life (QoL) in young adult teleworkers.

Artificial intelligence approaches for phenotyping heart failure in U.S. Veterans Health Administration electronic health record.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with no definitive diagnostic tests. HF registries are often based on manual reviews of medical records of hospitalized HF patients identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. However, most HF patients are not hospitalized, and manual review of big electronic health record (EHR) data is not practical.

Intracellular delivery of oncolytic viruses with engineered Salmonella causes viral replication and cell death.

As therapies, oncolytic viruses regress tumors and have the potential to induce antitumor immune responses that clear hard-to-treat and late-stage cancers. Despite this promise, clearance from the blood prevents treatment of internal solid tumors. To address this issue, we developed virus-delivering Salmonella (VDS) to carry oncolytic viruses into cancer cells.

A Hessian-Based Technique for Specular Reflection Detection and Inpainting in Colonoscopy Images.

In the field of Computer-Aided Detection (CADx), the use of AI-based algorithms for disease detection in endoscopy images, especially colonoscopy images, is on the rise. However, these algorithms often encounter performance issues due to obstructions like specular reflection, resulting in false positives. This paper presents a novel algorithm specifically designed to tackle the challenges posed by high specular reflection regions in colonoscopy images.

Acute monocular visual loss: time to call the stroke team?

A man in his 90s presented with acute monocular loss of vision; the emergency department triage alerted the stroke team. He underwent urgent parallel assessments by the stroke and ophthalmology teams and was diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion. The ultimate decision was made to manage him conservatively, rather than with intravenous thrombolysis, and his visual function has remained poor.

Development and therapeutic evaluation of 5D3(CC-MLN8237) antibody-theranostic conjugates for PSMA-positive prostate cancer therapy.

Prostate cancer (PC) is an aggressive cancer that can progress rapidly and eventually become castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Stage IV metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is an incurable late-stage cancer type with a low 5-year overall survival rate. Targeted therapeutics such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) based on high-affinity monoclonal antibodies and potent drugs conjugated via smart linkers are being developed for PC management.

Precocious Puberty and GnRH Analogs: Current Treatment Practices and Perspectives among US Pediatric Endocrinologists.

Introduction: Gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs (GnRHas) are used for treatment of precocious puberty. Over the last decade, several new formulations have been approved.

Methods: The Drugs and Therapeutics Subcommittee of the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) undertook a review to ascertain the current treatment options, prescribing behaviors, and practices of GnRHas among pediatric endocrinologists practicing within the USA.

Identification and outcomes of KDIGO-defined chronic kidney disease in 1.4 million U.S. Veterans with heart failure.

Aims: According to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guideline, the definition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires the presence of abnormal kidney structure or function for >3 months with implications for health. CKD in patients with heart failure (HF) has not been defined using this definition, and less is known about the true health implications of CKD in these patients. The objective of the current study was to identify patients with HF who met KDIGO criteria for CKD and examine their outcomes.

Participant retention in follow-up studies of intensive care unit survivors - A scoping review.

Objective: To synthesize participant retention data and related reporting in studies evaluating post-hospital outcomes of survivors of critical illness after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

Review Method Used: A synthesis of literature following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist.

Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry.

Economic Impact of COVID-19 on a Free-Standing Pediatric Ambulatory Center.

Background: Operating safely throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required surgical centers to adapt and raise their level of readiness. Intuitively, additional expenses related to such adaptation may have resulted in an increase in the cost of surgical care. However, little is known about the magnitude of such an increase, and no study has evaluated the temporal variation in the costs of care throughout the pandemic.

A Robust Platform for the Molecular Design of Potent, Protease-Stable, Long-Acting GIP Analogues.

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) is a 42-amino acid peptide hormone that regulates postprandial glucose levels. GIP binds to its cognate receptor, GIPR, and mediates metabolic physiology by improved insulin sensitivity, β-cell proliferation, increased energy consumption, and stimulated glucagon secretion. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) catalyzes the rapid inactivation of GIP within 6 min .

RNA helicase DDX3 regulates RAD51 localization and DNA damage repair in Ewing sarcoma.

We previously demonstrated that RNA helicase DDX3X (DDX3) can be a therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma (EWS), but its role in EWS biology remains unclear. The present work demonstrates that DDX3 plays a unique role in DNA damage repair (DDR). We show that DDX3 interacts with several proteins involved in homologous recombination, including RAD51, RECQL1, RPA32, and XRCC2.

Characterization and Assessment of Physical Properties of 3 Single Syringe Hydraulic Cement-based Sealers.

Introduction: A number of sealers with different chemistries are badged as Bioceramic, implying biological activity, but have dissimilar properties, which has implications on the sealer properties and will affect the quality and outcome of root canal treatment. This study aimed to assess the physical and chemical properties of 3 hydraulic cement-based sealers, namely BC Universal sealer compared with Totalfill BC sealer and AH Plus Bioceramic.

Methods: The microstructure and composition of the sealers were assessed using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy after setting.