Gut microbiome and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Pathogenic role and potential for therapeutics.

Gut microbiota plays key functions in the human body, and its alteration is associated with several human disorders. Moreover, its manipulation is being investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy. In this narrative review we will dissect the involvement of the gut microbiota and of the gut-liver axis on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Worsening Kidney Function: A Retrospective Cohort Study Including 122,606 Acid-Suppressing Users.

Background: The impact of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use on worsening renal function is controversial and lacks a solid pathophysiological explanation.

Objective: To assess the risk of worsening renal function and acute kidney injury (AKI) in PPI initiators as compared with H2-blockers initiators.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using longitudinal records from BIGAN, a population-based health database of Aragón (Spain).

Measuring general health literacy using the HLS-Q12 in specialty consultations in Spain.

Background: General health literacy (general HL) affects both individual and population health on numerous levels, with low general HL leading to increased morbidity, poor health service utilization, and increased healthcare spending. This study calculated health literacy scores of a population attending specialty consultations in the community of Aragon, Spain. It further produced a sociodemographic profile and examined the relationships between patients' scores and sociodemographic variables.

Development of a hybrid CuS-ICG polymeric photosensitive vector and its application in antibacterial photodynamic therapy.

At the present time, owing to the extremely high growth of microbial resistance to antibiotics and, consequently, the increased healthcare associated costs and the loss of efficacy of current treatments, the development of new therapies against bacteria is of paramount importance. For this reason, in this work, a hybrid synergetic nanovector has been developed, based on the encapsulation of a NIR (near infrared) photosensitive molecule (indocyanine green, ICG) in biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). In addition, copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs), optically sensitive to NIR, were anchored on the polymeric nanoparticle shell in order to boost the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon NIR irradiation.

Impact of mixed Staphylococcus aureus-Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm on susceptibility to antimicrobial treatments in a 3D in vitro model.

Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common bacteria co-isolated from chronic infected wounds. Their interactions remain unclear but this coexistence is beneficial for both bacteria and may lead to resistance to antimicrobial treatments. Besides, developing an in vitro model where this coexistence is recreated remains challenging, making difficult their study.

Exploring Eye, Hair, and Skin Pigmentation in a Spanish Population: Insights from Hirisplex-S Predictions.

Background/objectives: Understanding and predicting human pigmentation traits is crucial for individual identification. Genome-wide association studies have revealed numerous pigmentation-associated SNPs, indicating genetic overlap among pigmentation traits and offering the potential to develop predictive models without the need for analyzing large numbers of SNPs.

Methods: In this study, we assessed the performance of the HIrisPlex-S system, which predicts eye, hair, and skin color, on 412 individuals from the Spanish population.

Multi-loaded PLGA microspheres as neuroretinal therapy in a chronic glaucoma animal model.

This work focused on the co-encapsulation and simultaneous co-delivery of three different neuroprotective drugs in PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres for the treatment of glaucoma. For formulation optimization, dexamethasone (anti-inflammatory) and ursodeoxycholic acid (anti-apoptotic) were co-loaded by the solid-in-oil-in-water emulsion solvent extraction-evaporation technique as a first step. The incorporation of a water-soluble co-solvent (ethanol) and different amounts of dexamethasone resulted critical for the encapsulation of the neuroprotective agents and their initial release.

Plant miR6262 Modulates the Expression of Metabolic and Thermogenic Genes in Human Hepatocytes and Adipocytes.

Background: Edible plants have been linked to the mitigation of metabolic disturbances in liver and adipose tissue, including the decrease of lipogenesis and the enhancement of lipolysis and adipocyte browning. In this context, plant microRNAs could be key bioactive molecules underlying the cross-kingdom beneficial effects of plants. This study sought to explore the impact of plant-derived microRNAs on the modulation of adipocyte and hepatocyte genes involved in metabolism and thermogenesis.

Comparison between Different Visual Acuity Tests and Validation of a Digital Device.

Purpose: To compare different visual acuity (VA) tests (printed and digital, symbols and letters) and to validate a new device for VA testing called DIVE (Devices for an Integral Visual Examination).

Methods: VA was tested in a wide spectrum of adult people with printed tests (ETDRS and LEA Symbols) and with two implemented tests in DIVE (HOTV and DIVE Symbols). We measured agreement between the different VA tests using the intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman method.

Merging multi-omics with proteome integral solubility alteration unveils antibiotic mode of action.

Antimicrobial resistance is responsible for an alarming number of deaths, estimated at 5 million per year. To combat priority pathogens, like , the development of novel therapies is of utmost importance. Understanding the molecular alterations induced by medications is critical for the design of multi-targeting treatments capable of eradicating the infection and mitigating its pathogenicity.

Self-sustaining long-term 3D epithelioid cultures reveal drivers of clonal expansion in esophageal epithelium.

Aging epithelia are colonized by somatic mutations, which are subjected to selection influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The lack of suitable culture systems has slowed the study of this and other long-term biological processes. Here, we describe epithelioids, a facile, cost-effective method of culturing multiple mouse and human epithelia.

LUBAC enables tumor-promoting LTβ receptor signaling by activating canonical NF-κB.

Lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR), a member of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFR-SF), is essential for development and maturation of lymphoid organs. In addition, LTβR activation promotes carcinogenesis by inducing a proinflammatory secretome. Yet, we currently lack a detailed understanding of LTβR signaling.

Retinochoroidal Vascular Changes in Long-Term Type 1 Diabetic Patients Assessed by Optic Coherence Tomography Angiography.

To study retinal and choriocapillaris (CC) alterations using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in long-term type 1 diabetic (DM1) patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR). Seventy-eight eyes from 78 well-controlled DM1 patients diagnosed at least 15 years prior and 130 eyes of 130 healthy subjects were included in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Six eyes were excluded from the DM1 group.

Peripheral Blood TCRβ Repertoire, IL15, IL2 and Soluble Ligands for NKG2D Activating Receptor Predict Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer.

The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has changed the therapeutic paradigm of lung cancer (LC), becoming the standard of treatment for previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without actionable mutations. It has allowed the achievement of durable responses and resulted in significant survival benefits. However, not all patients respond; hence, molecular biomarkers are needed to help us predict which patients will respond.

Biological Properties of Extract on Caco-2 Cells: Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects.

(BE) is a mushroom well known for its taste, nutritional value, and medicinal properties. The objective of this work was to study the biological effects of BE extracts on human colon carcinoma cells (Caco-2), evaluating parameters related to oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, a hydroethanolic extract of BE was obtained by ohmic heating green technology.

Knowledge Gaps in Gluten-Free Diet Awareness among Patients and Healthcare Professionals: A Call for Enhanced Nutritional Education.

Diet is the only treatment for celiac disease (CeD), and good adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only way to ensure complete remission and to prevent complications. Limited education about the disease and a GFD is an attributing factor to inadequate adherence. Thus, our aim was to assess the current knowledge about a GFD and the clinical monitoring of adherence to the diet among CeD people and HCPs.

Validation and Comparison of Prognostic Models in Renal Carcinoma in a Tertiary Hospital.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the third most frequent urological neoplasia. Proper risk stratification is essential for adequate management. Various calculators are available.

When metabolic comorbidities and risk of malnutrition coexist: The new era of inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and risk of malnutrition can coexist in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We performed a malnutrition risk assessment as part of the standard follow-up of IBD patients and studied the potential risk factors for being at risk of malnutrition based on the presence or absence of MASLD.

Methods: The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) was used to screen malnutrition risk (MUST ≥1) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP ≥248 dB/min) to assess MASLD.

The role of vitamin C in the prevention of pancreatic cancer: a systematic-review.

Introduction And Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the role of vitamin C in the prevention of pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science up to August 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT), cohort studies and mendelian randomization studies based on prospective databases assessing the role of vitamin C in PC prevention.

Results: A total of twelve studies including European and North-American participants were included: two RCT, three mendelian randomization (MR) studies and seven cohort studies.