Cumulative Dispensing of Oral Corticosteroids Over 12 Months in People with COPD.

Purpose: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are recommended for the treatment of exacerbations in people with COPD; however, high cumulative lifetime doses (≥1000mg prednisolone-equivalent) are associated with adverse health effects. This issue is well defined in asthma but is less well understood in COPD. The aim of this study was to examine cumulative OCS dispensed to people with COPD over 12 months.

The band's encore: scarring causing dysphagia post-gastric band removal.

Placement of a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) is a procedure used in bariatric surgery. Despite its decrease in popularity due to its high reoperation rate and suboptimal clinical response, managing the complications of LAGBs remains an important component of general and bariatric surgeons' work. Only two case studies describe return to theatre to excise scarring, which has continued to cause symptoms after LAGB removal.

A union of two rare pathologies: small bowel diverticula perforation secondary to impacted gallstone ileus.

An 84-year-old lady presented with 1 day history of sudden onset generalized abdominal pain, fevers, and peritonism. Computed tomography was suggestive of a mid-small bowel perforation associated with a distal ovoid soft tissue density structure without pneumobilia. An urgent laparotomy demonstrated two areas of jejunal diverticula necrosis and perforation associated with a 3 cm luminal mass in the proximal ileum, and proximal small bowel dilatation.

Insect farming: A bioeconomy-based opportunity to revalorize plastic wastes.

Managing plastic waste is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces in the coming years. Current strategies-landfilling, incineration, and recycling-remain insufficient or pose significant environmental concerns, failing to address the growing volume of plastic residues discharged into the environment. Recently, increasing attention has focused on the potential of certain insect larvae species to chew, consume, and partially biodegrade synthetic polymers such as polystyrene and polyethylene, offering novel biotechnological opportunities for plastic waste management.

Indications for an antidepressive effect of thymosin alpha-1 in a small open-label proof of concept study in common variable immune deficiency patients with depression.

Background: A considerable proportion (21%) of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) suffers from depression. These subjects are characterized by reduced naïve T cells and a premature T cell senescence similar to that of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). It is known that T cells are essential for limbic system development/function.

Inflammatory proteins related to depression in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Up to 50% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience depression. Depression has been accompanied by increases in inflammatory proteins. This meta-analysis summarized the data on inflammatory protein concentrations and level of depression in individuals with MS.

Smaller sizes of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics mainly stimulate heterotrophic NO production in aerobic granular sludge systems.

Widespread polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET MPs) have played unintended role in nitrous oxide (NO) turnovers (i.e., production and consumption) at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Effectiveness of three machine learning models for prediction of daily streamflow and uncertainty assessment.

This study evaluates three Machine Learning (ML) models-Temporal Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (TKAN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN)-focusing on their capabilities to improve prediction accuracy and efficiency in streamflow forecasting. We adopt a data-centric approach, utilizing large, validated datasets to train the models, and apply SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to enhance the interpretability and reliability of the ML models. The results show that TKAN outperforms LSTM but slightly lags behind TCN in streamflow forecasting.

Predicting outcomes with compounding comorbidities - Left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia complicated by pre-viable premature rupture of the membranes: A case report.

This case report describes the difficulty in predicting the outcomes for a fetus affected with both left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia and second-trimester pre-viable rupture of membranes. Despite the reserved prognosis at the time of diagnosis, a favourable outcome was obtained. The case highlights the relevance of established prognosticators such as the observed/expected lung/head ratio and also underscores the importance of balanced counselling and providing parents with realistic expectations and appropriate support.

Contemporary clinical perspectives on chronic low back pain: The biology, mechanics, etc. underpinning clinical and radiological evaluation.

Background: Pain of a chronic nature remains the foremost concern in tertiary spine clinics, yet its elusive nature and quantification challenges persist. Despite extensive research and education on low back pain (LBP), the realm of diagnostic practices lacks a unified approach. Clinically, LBP exhibits a multifaceted character, encompassing conventional assessments of severity and disability, alongside nuanced attributes like pain characterization, duration, and patient expectations.

Release of elements and phenolic and flavonoid compounds from herbs and spices into acacia honey during infusion.

Acacia honey was infused with basil, oregano, marjoram, dill, garlic or cinnamon at infusion rates of 0-5% by mass for a 6 months period. After removal of the infusates, macro and micro element concentrations were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectroscopically.

Sustainable, greenhouse gas derived fermented protein in canine diets-a pilot study.

Sustainability concerns have increased consumer demand for non-animal-derived proteins and the search for novel, alternative protein sources. The nutritional sustainability of the food system without compromising the nutrient quality, composition, digestibility and consumption is pivotal. As with farmed livestock, it is imperative to ensure the well-being and food security of companion animals and to develop sustainable and affordable pet foods.

Landscapes-a lens for assessing sustainability.

Context: There are urgent calls to transition society to more sustainable trajectories, at scales ranging from local to global. Landscape sustainability (LS), or the capacity for landscapes to provide equitable access to ecosystem services essential for human wellbeing for both current and future generations, provides an operational approach to monitor these transitions. However, the complexity of landscapes complicates how and what to consider when assessing LS.

Halide perovskites, a game changer for future medical imaging technology.

The accurate detection of x-rays enables broad applications in various fields, including medical radiography, safety and security screening, and nondestructive inspection. Medical imaging procedures require the x-ray detection devices operating with low doses and high efficiency to reduce radiation health risks, as well as expect the flexible or wearable ones that offer more comfortable and accurate diagnosis experiences. Recently, halide perovskites have shown promising potential in high-performance, cost-effective x-ray detection owing to their attractive features, such as strong x-ray absorption, high-mobility-lifetime product, tunable bandgap, fast response, as well as low-cost raw materials, facile processing, and excellent flexibility.

Valorization of raw papaya () and citrus peels for development of antimicrobial and biodegradable edible film.

Most of the food packaging materials used in the market are petroleum-based plastics; such materials are neither biodegradable nor environmentally friendly and require years to decompose. To overcome these problems, biodegradable and edible materials are encouraged to be used because such materials degrade quickly due to the actions of bacteria, fungi, and other environmental effects. The present study examined that starch can be effectively used as raw material to develop biodegradable, edible films.

Nurses' self-efficacy and outcome expectancy in evidence-based practice: Translation, construct validity and internal consistency of the Dutch scales.

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial for appropriate, effective, and affordable care. Despite EBP education, barriers like low self-efficacy and outcome expectancy limit nurses' engagement in EBP. Reliable scales are essential to evaluate interventions aimed at improving self-efficacy and outcome expectancy in EBP.

Proposing a two-stage screening approach to distinguish between transient and enduring postnatal depressive symptoms: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Screening for perinatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) improves detection and increases health service utilization. However, previous studies with antenatal samples indicate that positive screenings might reflect transient distress that resolves without intervention, raising concerns about over-pathologizing typical postnatal responses and inefficiencies in referral practices. Therefore, distinguishing between transient and enduring depressive symptoms for appropriate referrals to secondary services is crucial, highlighting the need for a refined screening practice.

A novel TERT variant associated with a telomere biology disorder and challenges in variant classification.

Telomere biology disorders (TBDs) are inherited conditions associated with multisystem manifestations. We describe clinical and functional characterisation of a novel TERT variant. Whole-genome sequencing was performed along with single length analysis ().

Enhancing prostate cancer segmentation in bpMRI: Integrating zonal awareness into attention-guided U-Net.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in males worldwide, requiring improvements in diagnostic imaging to identify and treat it at an early stage. Bi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) is recognized as an essential diagnostic technique for PCa, providing shorter acquisition times and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, accurate diagnosis using bpMRI images is difficult due to the inconspicuous and diverse characteristics of malignant tumors and the intricate structure of the prostate gland.

Dual snare endoscopic extraction of a gastric foreign body using a dual-channel endoscope.

Foreign body ingestion, though rare, poses significant health risks, with 10%-20% of cases requiring endoscopic intervention. This article presents a novel case of a 16-year-old female who ingested a cigarette lighter, leading to abdominal pain and radiographic confirmation of a gastric foreign body. Initial attempts at retrieval using grasping forceps and snares were unsuccessful due to the object's size and shape, risking potential complications.