Imaging Approach to Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare but important clinical problem that presents a sometimes challenging diagnostic dilemma. The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension relies on a combination of clinical testing and radiologic imaging, with chest computed tomography (CT) often serving as the primary imaging modality for comprehensive evaluation of the chest. Chest CT can be used to evaluate for causes of pulmonary hypertension including chronic lung disease, pulmonary artery obstruction, and congenital heart disease.

City-Level Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxes and Changes in Adult Body Mass Index.

Importance: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise taxes are popular policy interventions aimed at decreasing SSB purchasing and consumption to improve cardiometabolic health and generate revenue for public health initiatives. There is limited evidence that these taxes in the US are associated with weight-related outcomes in adults, a primary contributor to cardiometabolic health.

Objective: To determine the association between SSB excise taxes and adult body mass index (BMI) and proportion of adults with overweight or obesity among California cities and assess whether associations vary by demographic characteristics.

Phytochemicals in Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Comprehensive Review.

Extensive investigation has been conducted on plant-based resources for their pharmacological usefulness, including various cancer types. The scope of this review is wider than several studies with a particular focus on breast cancer, which is an international health concern while studying sources of flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, saponins, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and glycosides apart from focusing on nursing. Important findings from prior studies are synthesized to explore these compounds' sources, mechanisms of action, complementary and synergistic effects, and associated side effects.

Beta-variant recombinant SARS CoV-2 vaccine induces durable cross-reactive antibodies against Omicron BA variants.

Background: We previously reported the safety and immunogenicity data from a randomized trial comparing the booster responses of vaccinees who received monovalent (MV) recombinant protein Beta-variant (MVB.1.351) and MV ancestral protein (MVD614) vaccines with AS03 adjuvant (Sanofi/GSK) to booster response of vaccinees who received mRNA MV ancestral strain BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech).

Regulatory workshop on standardisation of clinical procedures, endpoints and data robustness of human challenge studies - A stakeholder meeting report.

Inno4Vac, a public-private partnership funded by the IMI2/EU/EFPIA Joint Undertaking (IMI2 JU), brings together academic institutions, SMEs, and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate and de-risk vaccine development. The project has made significant strides in the selection and production of challenge agents for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and toxigenic Clostridioides difficile for controlled human infection model studies (CHIMs). A regulatory workshop held on March 20, 2024, addressed the standardisation of clinical procedures, ethical considerations, endpoints, and data integrity, highlighting the ongoing initiatives related to these CHIMs.

Burden of rheumatic diseases among people with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is a prevalent metabolic condition affecting over 500 million people globally and associated with serious comorbidities, including various rheumatologic conditions. Some studies have reported a significant association between rheumatological conditions and DM2. However, the global burden of rheumatological conditions among people with DM2 remains unknown.

Functionalization of Polymer Surfaces for Organic Photoresist Materials.

Photoresists are thin film materials designed to transform an optimal image into a mechanical mask. Diverse exposure techniques such as photolithography induce modifications in the exposed areas that result in solubility changes that can then be selectively removed with appropriate agents (developers). Photoresist materials need to keep pace with the increasingly demand for feature size reduction.

Diabetic Wound Healing: Factors, Mechanisms, and Treatment Strategies Using Herbal Components.

Managing diabetic wounds is a significant challenge for healthcare professionals since severe complications and delayed recovery greatly impact the patients' quality of life. This article aimed to explore various factors affecting diabetic wound healing, the mechanism of wound healing, and potential natural products having wound healing capability. It focuses on mechanisms of action and the therapeutic effectiveness of the compounds employed in the management of diabetic wounds.

Using structural equation modeling to assess pathways between structural stigma and tobacco use among sexual and gender minority young adults living in the United States.

Background: Sexual and gender minority young adult (SGM YA) populations use tobacco at higher rates than their non-SGM YA peers. Prior studies have identified significant correlations between interpersonal stigma and tobacco use, yet structural stigma may also influence tobacco use among SGM YA. This study aimed to assess the indirect effects of structural stigma on current tobacco use among SGM YA and non-SGM YA via depletion of economic resources, interpersonal discrimination, and perceived psychological stress.

Determination of the solubility of methyldopa in supercritical carbon dioxide for drug delivery applications: thermal analysis.

The production of fine particles by green technology like supercritical carbon dioxide requires the assessment of substantial solubility data at high pressures. This study represents the first determination of the solubility of methyldopa in carbon dioxide at pressures and temperatures ranging from 12 to 30 MPa and from 313.2 to 343.

Precision Oncology: Advances in Drug Delivery and Imaging.

The development of precise and reliable cancer treatments has been a long-standing goal in oncology. Conventional therapies often affect healthy tissues, leading to significant side effects. To overcome these challenges, researchers are exploring new methodologies that combine advanced drug delivery systems with state-of-the-art imaging technologies to target tumors more effectively.

Magnetic resonance imaging in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: deciphering the pattern of muscle involvement.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) constitute a group of immune-mediated disorders, affecting muscles. Our study aims to investigate the specific patterns of muscle involvement in subgroups of IIM. An ambispective and observational study was conducted.

Impact of Higher Cell-Free DNA Yields on Liquid Biopsy Testing in Glioblastoma Patients.

Background: Minimally invasive molecular profiling using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is increasingly important to the management of cancer patients; however, low sensitivity remains a major limitation, particularly for brain tumor patients. Transiently attenuating cfDNA clearance from the body-thereby, allowing more cfDNA to be sampled-has been proposed to improve the performance of liquid biopsy diagnostics. However, there is a paucity of clinical data on the effect of higher cfDNA recovery.

Clade Ib: a new emerging threat in the Mpox outbreak.

Monkeypox, a zoonotic virus in the , has drawn global attention for its impact on public health. In the current Mpox outbreak, a novel clade, Ib, has emerged as a significant and potentially fatal threat. This review examines the dynamics of MPXV transmission, person-to-person spread, and infection mechanisms, highlighting key risk factors.

Brain macrophages in vascular health and dysfunction.

Diverse macrophage populations inhabit the rodent and human central nervous system (CNS), including microglia in the parenchyma and border-associated macrophages (BAMs) in the meninges, choroid plexus, and perivascular spaces. These innate immune phagocytes are essential in brain development and maintaining homeostasis, but they also play diverse roles in neurological diseases. In this review, we highlight the emerging roles of CNS macrophages in regulating vascular function in health and disease.

Clinical and genomic characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn), a WHO priority pathogen with high rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), has emerged as a leading cause of hospital acquired pneumonia and neonatal sepsis.

Objective: We aimed to define the clinical characteristics of a cohort of patients with Kpn infection in Dhaka, Bangladesh and to perform phenotypic and genetic characterization of the associated isolates.

Methods: We retrospectively extracted clinical data about patients at Dhaka Medical College Hospital from whom Klebsiella spp was isolated from a clinical specimen collected between February and September 2022.

Excipient induced allergies in oral medications: unravelling the covert threat - a systematic review.

Excipients have been identified as 'inert' substances that often enhance the non-pharmacological aspects of a medication. However, recent clinical evidence elucidates their potential in inducing anaphylaxis and indicates that they are often overlooked as potential allergens in routine clinical practice. The aim of the study was to assimilate published evidence on excipient-induced allergies associated with the use of oral medications and to underline their potential as potent allergens.

Protocol of an adaptive mobile health intervention for the management of gestational weight gain: The LEAP cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: More than half of pregnant patients with overweight or obesity exceed national gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines, increasing their risk of adverse outcomes. There is an urgent need to develop effective and scalable interventions to improve GWG.

Objective: To describe the protocol of Lifestyle, Eating, and Activity in Pregnancy (LEAP), a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating a mobile health (mHealth) intervention promoting appropriate GWG in an integrated healthcare system.

The Role of Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Evaluating Prostate Adenocarcinoma: A Partially-Blinded Retrospective Study of a Prostatectomy Patient Cohort With Whole Gland Histopathology Correlation and Application of PI-RADS or TNM Staging.

Background: Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the current Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1) is considered optional, with primary scoring based on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI).

Molecular Differences in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas from Black versus White Patients.

By analyzing the records of patients with pancreatic cancer in the Tempus multimodal database, we identified genomic mutations and PD-L1 overexpression occurred more frequently in Black patients compared with their White counterparts. These molecular features may contribute to racial disparities in pancreatic cancer.