Synergistic defecation effects of subsp. BL-99 and fructooligosaccharide by modulating gut microbiota.

Introduction: Synbiotics have revealed the possibility of improving constipation through gut microbiota. The synergistic efficacy of subsp. lactis BL-99 (BL-99) and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on constipation have not been investigated.

The PRO-AGE Tool and Its Association With Post Discharge Outcomes in Older Adults Admitted From the Emergency Department.

Background: Existing risk scores assessing geriatric vulnerability in the emergency department (ED) have shown limited predictive power, especially in diverse populations. We investigated the relationship of a quick and easy-to-administer geriatric vulnerability scoring system with functional decline and mortality in older patients admitted to multiple hospitals through the ED in the United States (US) and Brazil (BR).

Method: Federated, international, multicenter observational study of hospitalized ED patients aged ≥ 65 from US and BR.

Erratum: Non-invasive glucose extraction by a single polarization rotator system in patients with diabetes: erratum.

[This corrects the article on p. 4909 in vol. 15, PMID: 39346983.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Mortality Outcome in Critical COVID-19 Patients Infected with Alpha and Omicron Variants.

Objective: Early reports have indicated that the Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with low mortality. However, the mortality rate of critical patients in Taiwan with COVID-19 caused by different variants has not been well described.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Linkou Branch of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from April 2020 to September 2022.

Protective Effects of L-Cysteine Against Cisplatin-Induced Oxidative Stress-Mediated Reproductive Damage.

Cisplatin (CIS) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, but its side effects, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, often lead to male reproductive damage. Oxidative stress, primarily caused by the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a critical role in disrupting testicular homeostasis, resulting in spermatogenic impairment and tissue injury. L-cysteine (CYS), a semi-essential amino acid with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may offer protection against CIS-induced oxidative damage.