Lebrikizumab decreases type 2 inflammatory biomarker levels in patients with asthma: data from randomized phase 3 trials (LAVOLTA I and II).

Aim: Lebrikizumab is an interleukin (IL)-13 inhibitor that specifically blocks IL-13 signaling. Here, we report the effects of lebrikizumab on asthma serum biomarkers in 2 phase 3 clinical studies.

Methods: LAVOLTA I and LAVOLTA II are replicate, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with 52-week placebo-controlled treatment periods that evaluated lebrikizumab 37.

IMPROVED PORTABLE INSTRUMENT TRACKING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL TRAINING.

Surgeons in training have a limited opportunity to practice their skills in a realistic surgical environment. Surgical training models are expensive and are often single-use exercises involving consumable supplies. The goal of the work presented in this paper is to increase surgeon training time by developing a surgical training simulator that is portable, inexpensive, and offers a realistic surgical environment.

Self-reported Hearing Quality of Life for Adolescent Cochlear Implant Recipients: A Longitudinal Study.

Background:  Clinicians are increasingly interested in self-reported hearing-specific quality of life (HQoL) for cochlear implant (CI) recipients, including pediatric CI recipients.

Purpose:  (1) To compare HQoL of adolescent CI recipients to those of peers with typical hearing (TH); (2) to examine, longitudinally, HQoL for a set of CI recipients; and (3) to determine the effects of child, demographic, audiological, speech perception, and language variables on adolescent HQoL.

Research Design:  Hearing Environments and Reflections on Quality of Life (HEARQL) questionnaires were completed by children with CIs at elementary (HEARQL-26) and adolescent (HEARQL-28) ages.

Examining the effects of moral distress, compassion fatigue and burnout on intention to leave among nursing students in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Compassion fatigue and burnout have detrimental effects on nursing students. Moral distress has been recognized as a contributing factor to both, potentially impacting the intention to leave nursing programme.

Aim: To examine relationships among moral distress, compassion fatigue and burnout on intention to leave the nursing programme among nursing students.

GPRC5A promotes lung colonization of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Emerging evidence suggests that cancer cells may disseminate early, prior to the formation of traditional macro-metastases. However, the mechanisms underlying the seeding and transition of early disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) into metastatic tumors remain poorly understood. Through single-cell RNA sequencing, we show that early lung DCCs from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) exhibit a trophoblast-like 'tumor implantation' phenotype, which enhances their dissemination and supports metastatic growth.

Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial of a Nurse-Led Sexual Rehabilitation Intervention to Rebuild Sexuality and Intimacy After Treatment for Gynecological Cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual rehabilitation program, SEXHAB, in improving sexual functioning, reducing sexual distress, and enhancing marital satisfaction for women after gynecological cancer treatment.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial that included 150 women newly diagnosed with gynecological cancer from three public hospitals in Hong Kong. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 78) to receive the SEXHAB or to an attention control group (n = 72) to receive attention.

Preventing cardiovascular disease in at-risk patients: Results of a pilot behavioural health programme in general practice.

Background: The 'High-Risk Prevention Programme' (HRPP) involved a six-week health behaviour change programme based in general practices and aimed to address cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in disadvantaged Irish communities.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to establish the HRPP's likely effectiveness and acceptability to inform the development of a future definitive trial.

Methods: The HRPP was conducted at six general practices in disadvantaged areas in the Ireland East region.

Ergonomic differences in mesh placement and mesh fixation between laparoscopic and robotic inguinal hernia repair with mesh.

Purpose: General differences in surgeon ergonomics between laparoscopic and robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repairs (LIHR vs. RIHR) have been previously studied. However, specific differences in the ergonomics of mesh placement (MP) and mesh fixation (MF) are undetermined.

A Qualitative Study of the Knowledge of Metabolic Syndrome, Attitudes about Lifestyle Modifications, and Preferences for Lifestyle Interventions among Patients with Cancer and Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders-hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and insulin resistance-that together increase the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Although ~60% of cancer patients have metabolic syndrome, which increases their risk of mortality, oncology providers lack clear guidance about its management. The development of metabolic syndrome lifestyle interventions requires a better understanding of these patients' knowledge, attitudes, and intervention preferences in order to inform management.

Effects of virtual reality on stroke rehabilitation: An umbrella review of systematic reviews.

Background And Aims: Virtual reality is an emerging technology in rehabilitation. This umbrella review aimed to identify, critically appraise, and summarize current systematic reviews on the effects of virtual reality on stroke rehabilitation.

Methods: Five biomedical databases, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched from inception to December 30th, 2023, for systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses published in English.

Understanding the Changes in Brain Activation When Viewing Products with Differences in Attractiveness.

Product design and attractiveness are pivotal factors that determine people's positive reactions when viewing a product and may eventually affect their purchasing choices. Comprehending how people assess product design is crucial. Various studies have explored the link between product attractiveness and consumer behavior, but these were predominantly behavioral studies that offered limited insight into the neural processes underlying perceptions of product attractiveness.

Annexin A1 binds PDZ and LIM domain 7 to inhibit adipogenesis and prevent obesity.

Obesity is a global issue that warrants the identification of more effective therapeutic targets and a better understanding of the pivotal molecular pathogenesis. Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is known to inhibit phospholipase A2, exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity. However, the specific effects of ANXA1 in obesity and the underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear.

Structure and fragmentation chemistry of the peptide radical cations of glycylphenylalanylglycine (GFG).

Herein, we explore the generation and characterization of the radical cations of glycylphenylalanylglycine, or [GFG]•+, formed via dissociative electron-transfer reaction from the tripeptide to copper(II) within a ternary complex. A comprehensive investigation employing isotopic labeling, infrared multiple-photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidated the details and energetics in formation of the peptide radical cations as well as their dissociation products. Unlike conventional aromatic-containing peptide radical cations that primarily form canonical π-radicals, our findings reveal that 75% of the population of the experimentally produced [GFG]•+ precursors are [GFα•G]+, where the radical resides on the middle α-carbon of the phenylalanyl residue.

Social Isolation Changes and Long-Term Outcomes Among Older Adults.

Importance: While the association between cross-sectional measures of social isolation and adverse health outcomes is well established, less is known about the association between changes in social isolation and health outcomes.

Objective: To assess changes of social isolation and mortality, physical function, cognitive function, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and stroke.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In a cohort design, social isolation changes in 4 years and subsequent risk of mortality and other outcomes were assessed using the 13 649 eligible Health and Retirement Study (HRS) respondents from the 2006 to 2020 waves.

Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a Social Media-Based Peer-Group Mobile Messaging Smoking Cessation Intervention Among Chinese Immigrants who Smoke: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Chinese immigrants experience significant disparities in tobacco use. Culturally adapted tobacco treatments targeting this population are sparse and the use is low. The low use of these treatment programs is attributed to their exclusive focus on individuals who are ready to quit and the wide range of barriers that Chinese immigrants face to access these programs.

Exploring treatment options in cancer: Tumor treatment strategies.

Traditional therapeutic approaches such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have burdened cancer patients with onerous physical and psychological challenges. Encouragingly, the landscape of tumor treatment has undergone a comprehensive and remarkable transformation. Emerging as fervently pursued modalities are small molecule targeted agents, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), cell-based therapies, and gene therapy.

LRIG1 controls proliferation of adult neural stem cells by facilitating TGFβ and BMP signalling pathways.

Adult Neural Stem Cells (aNSCs) in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) are largely quiescent. Here, we characterize the mechanism underlying the functional role of a cell-signalling inhibitory protein, LRIG1, in the control of aNSCs proliferation. Using Lrig1 knockout models, we show that Lrig1 ablation results in increased aNSCs proliferation with no change in neuronal progeny and that this hyperproliferation likely does not result solely from activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

A multimodal cancer rehabilitation programme promoting sense of coherence for women treated for female reproductive cancers: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a theory-driven multimodal cancer rehabilitation intervention (MCRI) programme among Hong Kong Chinese women treated for female reproductive cancers (FRC).

Methods: A single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted in two regional hospitals in Hong Kong involving 35 women treated for FRC. The intervention group (n = 18) received a 12-week MCRI which included 30 modules of app-based health education and three nurse-led individual counselling sessions.

Management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in CALR mutated post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis: A case report.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) results from the loss of erythrocyte surface proteins, leading to complement activation and its spectrum of effects. We explore this case of a 57-year-old man with post-essential thrombocythemia (ET) myelofibrosis (MF) who developed symptomatic anemia with evidence of hemolysis on lab work. While hemolysis was localized to be intramedullary based on workup, the exact diagnosis was undetermined, leading to a prolonged course of steroid therapy to control anemia.

Exploring the Impact of Hand Dominance on Laparoscopic Surgical Skills Development Using Network Models.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery demands high precision and skill, necessitating effective training protocols that account for factors such as hand dominance. This study investigates the impact of hand dominance on the acquisition and proficiency of laparoscopic surgical skills, utilizing a novel assessment method that combines Network Models and electromyography (EMG) data.

Methods: Eighteen participants, comprising both medical and non-medical students, engaged in laparoscopic simulation tasks, including peg transfer and wire loop tasks.

Phosphate Migration versus the Loss of Phosphoric Acid in Protonated Phosphopeptides: A Computational Study.

Residue-specific phosphorylation is a protein post-translational modification that regulates cellular functions. Experimental determination of the exact sites of protein phosphorylation provides an understanding of the signaling and processes at work for a given cellular state. Any experimental artifact that involves migration of the phosphate group during measurement is a concern, as the outcome can lead to erroneous conclusions that may confound studies on cellular signal transduction.

Intramuscular and intermuscular coherence analysis while obstacle crossing during treadmill gait.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the contribution of the common synaptic drives to motor units during obstacle avoidance, using coherence analysis between a-pair electromyography (EMG) signals (EMG-EMG coherence).

Materials And Methods: Fourteen healthy volunteers walked on a treadmill with and without obstacle avoidance. During obstacle gait, subjects were instructed to step over an obstacle with their right leg while walking that would randomly and unpredictably appear.