This perspective covers the chemistry of cyclopentadienyl cations from the first synthetic attempts generating transient variants to their successful isolation earlier this year. They are highly reactive species that researchers struggled to isolate and characterize that stifled efforts to explore their reactivity. The recent isolation of a cyclopentadienyl cation enabled characterization and reactivity studies that make this an exciting time in the area that will undoubtedly inspire research in cyclic four π-electron systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNivolumab plus ipilimumab (aCTLA-4/aPD-1) combination therapy has significantly improved clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma, with 50%-60% of patients responding to treatment, but predictors of response are poorly characterized. We hypothesized that circulating cytokines and peripheral white blood cells may predict response to therapy and evaluated 15 cytokines and complete blood counts (CBC with differentials) from 89 patients with advanced melanoma treated with combination therapy from three points in time: pre-treatment, one month and approximately three months after starting therapy. Clinical endpoints evaluated included durable clinical benefit (DCB), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) tumors have demonstrated favorable responses to immune checkpoint inhibition targeting PD-1. However, more in-depth identification of predictors of response could further refine patient selection for immunotherapy treatment.
Experimental Design: We undertook integrated evaluation performed on samples collected from 28 of 42 patients enrolled on the NCI-MATCH arm Z1D trial that evaluated PD-1 inhibition treatment with nivolumab in patients with non-colorectal dMMR tumors.
Background: Surgical bootcamps provide hands-on learning opportunities for junior doctors and trainees in low-pressure, non-clinical environments. Participants develop skills, knowledge, and confidence in preparation for their registrar years. A number of international urology-specific bootcamps have demonstrated improvements in these technical and non-technical domains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is a chronic ulcerating disease. A literature review identified inconsistencies in clinical trials. The aims of this study were to reach a consensus on the most important domains to measure when assessing LCL, agree on parameters to measure the domains, and develop a tool representing a Core Outcome Set (COS), for use in clinical assessment of LCL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Exposure to postnatal systemic inflammation is associated with increased risk of brain injury in preterm infants, leading to impaired maturation of the cerebral cortex and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, the optimal method for identifying cortical dysmaturation is unclear. Herein, we compared the utility of electroencephalography (EEG), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) at different recovery times after systemic inflammation in newborn rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Women have smaller coronary size than men independent of body surface area. Female to male heart transplantation demonstrates coronary lumen enlargement.
Purpose: To investigate relationships between endogenous androgens and coronary luminal size in women with suspected ischemic heart disease (IHD).
Introduction: Medication errors are an unnecessary cost to a healthcare system and patients of a country. This review aimed to systematically identify published cost variables used to calculate the cost of medication errors and to explore any updates on findings already known on calculating the cost of medication errors during the past 10 years.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Background: Emerging data in the general population and those with coronary artery disease demonstrate higher risk of adverse outcomes with high (>70 mg/dL) HDL-C levels. There are limited data on the risk of adverse outcomes in women with suspected ischemic heart disease.
Objective: To investigate relationships between high (>70 mg/dL), average (50-70 mg/dL), and low (<50 mg/dL) HDL-C levels with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure hospitalization), and all-cause mortality in women referred for coronary angiography for suspected myocardial ischemia.
is a gram-negative bacilli bacterium that can infect and colonize humans, causing a wide range of clinical manifestations. The most common manifestation is gastroenteritis, usually after ingestion of undercooked and ill-prepared food, particularly in developing countries. Indonesia is among those reported to have a high incidence of infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) account for the highest number of deaths and disability globally and within Sri Lanka. A CVD risk prediction tool is a simple means of early identification of high-risk groups which is a cost-effective preventive strategy, especially for resource-poor countries. Distribution of risk factor levels varies in different regions even within the same country, thus a common risk estimation tool for the country may give false local predictions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: There is growing evidence that infants with mild hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy have increased risk of brain injury and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Currently, there is no approved treatment for these infants. It was previously shown that blocking connexin 43 hemichannels is neuroprotective in models of moderate to severe HI injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomen with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) have a relatively lower quality of life (QoL) compared to men, but our understanding of sex differences in QoL in ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) is limited. We conducted a survey of patient members of INOCA International with an assessment of self-reported health measures. Functional capacity was retrospectively estimated using the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), assessing levels of activities performed before and after INOCA symptom onset.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGallbladder hydrops, otherwise known as gallbladder mucocele, is an uncommon gallbladder condition characterised by gallbladder distention and accumulation of clear mucous-like inspissated bile. Patients with gallbladder hydrops are usually asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed on cross-sectional imaging or diagnostic laparoscopy. This case report presents a rare case of calculous gallbladder hydrops measuring 217mm in maximal length in a 56-year-old female presenting with atypical abdominal and urinary symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastrointestinal (GI) parasites cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The use of conventional antiparasitic drugs is often inhibited due to limited availability, side effects or parasite resistance. Medicinal plants can be used as alternatives or adjuncts to current antiparasitic therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerein, we compared peri-operative and post-operative outcomes between robotic-assisted and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Various reviews of the current literature have detailed the lack of single-surgeon studies in this domain. Our study featured a single surgeon experienced in both approaches to reduce this bias seen in other multi-centre studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrosymphyseal fistula (UF) is an uncommon complication in patients with prostate cancer who undergo radiation therapy. UF formation can lead to complications such as symphyseal septic arthritis or osteomyelitis with consequences of severe illness and pain. Often major surgical correction is required, however this case report demonstrates that a less invasive approach may be successful in select patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite advances in modern human and veterinary medicine, gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections remain a significant health issue worldwide, mainly in developing countries. Increasing evidence of the multi-drug resistance of these parasites and the side effects of currently available synthetic drugs have led to increased research on alternative medicines to treat parasitic infections. The exploration of potential botanical antiparasitics, which are inexpensive and abundant, may be a promising alternative in this context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
January 2023
Despite a growing evidence base on the effectiveness of community-based physical activity interventions for mental health, there is a lack of studies that focus on those affected by severe mental illness (SMI), who often experience poorer physical health, and are less physically active than the wider population. The use of peer support groups in this context is also understudied, despite benefits being documented in other contexts. This study examined the impact and process of a nationwide project to embed physical activity into peer support groups for those affected by SMI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFare Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic rods or coccobacilli that are infrequently encountered as pathogens causing infection. The range of invasive infection that cause is poorly described. The pathogenicity of species such as is debated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe challenge of eradicating leukemia in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) after initial cytoreduction has motivated modern efforts to combine synergistic active modalities including immunotherapy. Recently, the ETCTN/CTEP 10026 study tested the combination of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine together with the immune checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab for AML/myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) either after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or in the HSCT-naïve setting. Integrative transcriptome-based analysis of 304 961 individual marrow-infiltrating cells for 18 of 48 subjects treated on study revealed the strong association of response with a high baseline ratio of T to AML cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCryptosporidium parvum is a significant cause of watery diarrhoea in humans and other animals worldwide. Although hundreds of novel drugs have been evaluated, no effective specific chemotherapeutic intervention for C. parvum has been reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF