Postprandial glycaemic response and pain sensitivity in breast cancer survivors suffering from chronic pain: a double-blind, randomised controlled cross-over pilot experiment.

Introduction: The study's primary goal is to investigate differences in postprandial glycaemic response (PPGR) to beverages with varying glycaemic index (i.e. low and medium) between breast cancer survivors (BCS) with chronic pain and healthy pain-free controls (HC).

Transport and inhibition of the sphingosine-1-phosphate exporter SPNS2.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a signaling lysolipid critical to heart development, immunity, and hearing. Accordingly, mutations in the S1P transporter SPNS2 are associated with reduced white cell count and hearing defects. SPNS2 also exports the S1P-mimicking FTY720-P (Fingolimod) and thereby is central to the pharmacokinetics of this drug when treating multiple sclerosis.

The (in)dependence of single-cell data inferences on model constructs.

Recent developments in single-cell analysis have revolutionized basic research and have garnered the attention of the forensic domain. Though single-cell analysis is not new to forensics, the ways in which these data can be generated and interpreted are. Modern interpretation strategies report likelihood ratios that rely on a model of the world that is a simplification of it.

Lipid-mediated resolution of inflammation and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neuroinflammation impacts on the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Specialized pro-resolving mediators trigger the resolution of inflammation. We investigate the specialized pro-resolving mediator blood profile and their receptors' expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in relation to survival in ALS.

Implications for the diagnosis of aspiration and aspergillosis in critically ill patients with detection of galactomannan in broncho-alveolar lavage fluids.

Invasive infections with Aspergillus fumigatus in ICU patients are linked to high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-immunosuppressed patients is difficult, as Aspergillus antigen (galactomannan [GM]) may have other causes. This retrospective study analyzed 160 ICU surgical patients with positive GM in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), classifying them based on AspICU criteria for suspected IPA (pIPA) or aspiration.

The efficacy and safety of thymosin α1 for sepsis (TESTS): multicentre, double blinded, randomised, placebo controlled, phase 3 trial.

Objective: To evaluate whether the immunomodulatory drug thymosin α1 reduces mortality in adults with sepsis.

Design: Multicentre, double blinded, placebo controlled phase 3 trial.

Setting: 22 centres in China, September 2016 to December 2020.

Benefits of a 12-week psychotherapy course for people with Parkinson's disease: a service improvement project.

The psychological symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) worsen the quality of life of patients and their partners. However, these non-motor symptoms (mainly anxiety and depression) remain undiagnosed and undertreated in PD. Here, we report the benefits of a 12-week intervention using talking therapy (psychotherapy and counselling).

Multivariable MR Can Mitigate Bias in Two-Sample MR Using Covariable-Adjusted Summary Associations.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are hypothesis-free studies that estimate the association between polymorphisms across the genome with a trait of interest. To increase power and to estimate the direct effects of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on a trait GWAS are often conditioned on a covariate (such as body mass index or smoking status). This adjustment can introduce bias in the estimated effect of the SNP on the trait.

Real-world effectiveness of mepolizumab in asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Exacerbations and suboptimal disease control are common in severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype (SAep). Mepolizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated efficacy and safety in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We aimed to strengthen the real-world evidence base for mepolizumab in SAep.

Using patient preference to inform ritlecitinib dose selection for alopecia areata treatment.

Ritlecitinib is an oral Janus kinase 3/tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (JAK3/TEC) family kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of severe alopecia areata (AA). Benefit-risk profiles of two doses of ritlecitinib (50 mg vs 30 mg once daily) were evaluated by integrating patient preferences and clinical efficacy and safety estimates for ritlecitinib. A discrete-choice experiment (DCE) was utilized to elicit preferences for benefit and safety attributes of systemic AA treatments.

Exploring aspects of mentoring for black and minoritised healthcare professionals in the UK: a nominal group technique study.

Objective: Mentoring plays a crucial role in career development, particularly for black and minoritised ethnic (BME) professionals. However, existing literature lacks clarity on the impact of mentoring and how best to deliver for career success. This study aimed to ascertain perceptions and build consensus on what is important in mentoring for BME healthcare professionals.

Understanding the scale and nature of avoidable healthcare-associated harm for prisoners in England: protocol for a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Around 1 in 20 patients experience avoidable healthcare-associated harm worldwide. Despite longstanding concerns, there is insufficient information available about the safety of healthcare for prisoners. To address this, this study will investigate the scale and nature of avoidable healthcare-associated harm for prisoners in England.

Automated characterisation of cerebral microbleeds using their size and spatial distribution on brain MRI.

Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are small, hypointense hemosiderin deposits in the brain measuring 2-10 mm in diameter. As one of the important biomarkers of small vessel disease, they have been associated with various neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. Hence, automated detection, and subsequent extraction of clinically useful metrics (e.

An examination of daily CO emissions prediction through a comparative analysis of machine learning, deep learning, and statistical models.

Human-induced global warming, primarily attributed to the rise in atmospheric CO, poses a substantial risk to the survival of humanity. While most research focuses on predicting annual CO emissions, which are crucial for setting long-term emission mitigation targets, the precise prediction of daily CO emissions is equally vital for setting short-term targets. This study examines the performance of 14 models in predicting daily CO emissions data from 1/1/2022 to 30/9/2023 across the top four polluting regions (China, India, the USA, and the EU27&UK).

Dairy farmers' intention to use calf management technologies in four European countries: A QCA and PLS-SEM approach.

Whilst livestock management technologies may help to improve productivity, economic performance, and animal welfare on farms, there has been low uptake of technologies across farming systems and countries. This study aimed to understand dairy farmers' intention to use calf management technologies by combining partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). We evaluated the hypotheses that dairy farmers will intend to use calf technologies if they have sufficient competencies, sufficient materials, and positive meanings (e.

Real-world analysis of acamprosate use in patients with cirrhosis and alcohol-associated hepatitis.

Objective: Preventing return to alcohol is of critical importance for patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis and/or alcohol-associated hepatitis. Acamprosate is a widely used treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). We assessed the impact of acamprosate prescription in patients with advanced liver disease on abstinence rates and clinical outcomes.

Vitamin D, C-Reactive Protein, and Increased Fall Risk: A Genetic Epidemiological Study.

: Falls are a major public health concern. Daily vitamin D supplementation is a proposed fall prevention strategy; however, safety concerns have arisen from some clinical trials showing increased fall risk when using higher vitamin D dosing methods. The relationship between vitamin D and falls may be influenced by factors, such as inflammation, which can alter the balance of essential nutrients like vitamin D and retinol, potentially affecting motor function.

Hypoxia Compromises the Differentiation of Human Osteosarcoma Cells to CAR-R, a Hydroxylated Derivative of Lithocholic Acid and Potent Agonist of the Vitamin D Receptor.

The active metabolite of vitamin D3, calcitriol (1,25D), is widely recognised for its direct anti-proliferative and pro-differentiation effects. However, 1,25D is calcaemic, which restricts its clinical use for cancer treatment. Non-calcaemic agonists of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) could be better candidates for cancer treatment.

Pregnancy & cardiovascular disease: the PREG-CVD-HH registry.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in pregnant and peripartal women in western countries. Physiological changes during pregnancy can lead to cardiovascular complications in the mother; women with pre-existing heart disease may not tolerate these changes well, increasing their susceptibility to adverse cardiovascular outcomes during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to characterize pregnancy-induced changes in cardiac function, biomarker concentrations and cardiovascular outcomes in women with CVD during pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital in Germany.

Impulsivity behaviors and white matter mediate the relationship between genetic risk for cannabis use disorder and early cannabis use in adolescents.

Background And Aim: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is strongly influenced by genetic factors; however the mechanisms underpinning this association are not well understood. This study investigated whether a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on a genome-wide association study for CUD in adults predicts cannabis use in adolescents and whether the association can be explained by inter-individual variation in structural properties of brain white matter or risk-taking behaviors.

Design And Setting: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses using data from the IMAGEN cohort, a European longitudinal study integrating genetic, neuroimaging and behavioral measures.

Development and Evaluation of a Remote Monitoring Regional Adjuvant Abemaciclib Service for Patients With High-Risk Early Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Adjuvant abemaciclib was recently approved in high-risk early breast cancer, leading to an increase in oncology resource utilisation. We thus developed a regional, remote monitoring clinical service. The set-up, delivery processes and outcomes from the first 6 months' consecutive patients are presented.

Insights into Interlayer Dislocation Augmented Zinc-Ion Storage Kinetics in MoS Nanosheets for Rocking-Chair Zinc-Ion Batteries with Ultralong Cycle-Life.

Increasing attention to sustainability and cost-effectiveness in energy storage sector has catalyzed the rise of rechargeable Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). However, finding replacement for limited cycle-life Zn-anode is a major challenge. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS), an insertion-type 2D layered material, has shown promising characteristics as a ZIB anode.

Consuming a modified Mediterranean ketogenic diet reverses the peripheral lipid signature of Alzheimer's disease in humans.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder with significant environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle, influencing its onset and progression. Although previous studies have suggested that certain diets may reduce the incidence of AD, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Method: In this post-hoc analysis of a randomized crossover study of 20 elderly adults, we investigated the effects of a modified Mediterranean ketogenic diet (MMKD) on the plasma lipidome in the context of AD biomarkers, analyzing 784 lipid species across 47 classes using a targeted lipidomics platform.

Structural basis of THC analog activity at the Cannabinoid 1 receptor.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant Cannabis sativa and approved for emetic conditions, appetite stimulation and sleep apnea relief. THC's psychoactive actions are mediated primarily by the cannabinoid receptor CB. Here, we determine the cryo-EM structure of HU210, a THC analog and widely used tool compound, bound to CB and its primary transducer, G.

Explainable artificial intelligence to identify follicles that optimize clinical outcomes during assisted conception.

Infertility affects one-in-six couples, often necessitating in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF). IVF generates complex data, which can challenge the utilization of the full richness of data during decision-making, leading to reliance on simple 'rules-of-thumb'. Machine learning techniques are well-suited to analyzing complex data to provide data-driven recommendations to improve decision-making.