Assessing pain in multiple sclerosis: Test-retest reliability of patient-reported outcome measures and accuracy of screening tools.

Background: Pain is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). The reliability of outcome measures for pain and the accuracy of screening tools are essential for treatment purposes.

Objectives: This study investigated the test-retest reliability of Neuropathic Pain Scale (NPS), Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF), Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4), and painDETECT, and the accuracy of DN4 and painDETECT.

Ab Initio Predictions of Adsorption in Flexible Metal-Organic Frameworks for Water Harvesting Applications.

Metal-organic frameworks such as MOF-303 and MOF-LA2-1 have demonstrated exceptional performance for water harvesting applications. To enable a reticular design of such materials, an accurate prediction of the adsorption properties with chemical accuracy and fully accounting for the flexibility is crucial. The computational prediction of water adsorption properties in MOFs has become standard practice, but current methods lack the predictive power needed to design new materials.

Discovery of (3-Phenylcarbamoyl-3,4-dihydro-2-pyrrol-2-yl)phosphonates as Imidazoline Receptor Ligands with Anti-Alzheimer and Analgesic Properties.

Imidazoline receptors (I-IRs) are altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and are associated with analgesia. I-IRs are not structurally described, and their pharmacological characterization relies on their modulation by highly affine ligands. Herein, we describe the synthesis of (3-phenylcarbamoyl-3,4-dihydro-2-pyrrol-2-yl)phosphonates endowed with relevant affinities for I-IRs in human brain tissues.

Improved Ammonia Synthesis and Energy Output from Zinc-Nitrate Batteries by Spin-State Regulation in Perovskite Oxides.

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia (eNRA) is a promising route toward environmental sustainability and clean energy. However, its efficiency is often limited by the slow conversion of intermediates due to spin-forbidden processes. Here, we introduce a novel A-site high-entropy strategy to develop a new perovskite oxide (LaPrNdBaSr)CoO (LPNBSC) for eNRA.

Bivalves as a Mercury Bioindicator: A National Isotopic Survey along the Coast of South Korea.

Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant that poses health risks for human populations relying on seafood consumption. To mitigate its impact, identifying and monitoring Hg sources have become priorities, notably under the Minamata Convention. Bivalves are commonly used as sentinels in contaminant biomonitoring but can accumulate Hg from diverse environmental media.

ECG Patterns of Occlusion Myocardial Infarction: A Narrative Review.

The traditional management of acute coronary syndrome has relied on the identification of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as a proxy of acute coronary occlusion. This conflation of STEMI with acute coronary occlusion has historically overshadowed non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), despite evidence suggesting 25% to 34% of NSTEMI cases may also include acute coronary occlusion. Current limitations in the STEMI/NSTEMI binary framework underscore the need for a revised approach to chest pain and acute coronary syndrome management.

Comparison of Pain Assessment Tools and Numeric Rating Scale Thresholds for Analgesic Administration in the Postanaesthetic Care Unit.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). Additionally, the study aimed to determine NRS threshold values for both mild analgesic administration (= without risk of nausea and vomiting [NV] side effects) and strong analgesic administration (= with risk of NV side effects) in the postanaesthetic care unit (PACU).

Design: Prospective, observational study design.

Deep Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Multimodal Analgesia in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery Performed via Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy.

Objective: This study investigated if the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) within a multimodal analgesia scheme would reduce acute post-operative pain and intravenous opioid consumption in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after isolated minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Hospital of Siena (Italy).

Voice Quality as Digital Biomarker in Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Background: Voice analysis has emerged as a potential biomarker for mood state detection and monitoring in bipolar disorder (BD). The systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence for voice analysis applications in BD, examining (1) the predictive validity of voice quality outcomes for mood state detection, and (2) the correlation between voice parameters and clinical symptom scales.

Methods: A PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library search was carried out by two investigators for publications investigating voice quality in BD according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements.

Impact of Treatment With Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Combination With Bevacizumab on Health-Related Quality of Life and Performance Status in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis of the Phase III SUNLIGHT Trial.

Background: The efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) + bevacizumab compared to FTD/TPI for treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) was demonstrated in the SUNLIGHT trial. This analysis of SUNLIGHT investigated the impact of treatment with FTD/TPI + bevacizumab on patient quality of life (QoL) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS).

Methods: Questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D-5L) and ECOG PS assessments were conducted at baseline and on Day 1 of each treatment cycle.

Pathological diagnosis of central nervous system tumours in adults: what's new?

In the course of the last decade, the pathological diagnosis of many tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) has transitioned from a purely histological to a combined histological and molecular approach, resulting in a more precise 'histomolecular diagnosis'. Unfortunately, translation of this refinement in CNS tumour diagnostics into more effective treatment strategies is lagging behind. There is hope though that incorporating the assessment of predictive markers in the pathological evaluation of CNS tumours will help to improve this situation.

Weight loss therapy and addiction: increased risk after bariatric surgery but reduced risk with GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Background: Obesity is an increasing public health problem because of its high prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality. Two weight-loss strategies are currently used, either bariatric surgery or pharmacological therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs). Preclinical studies in rodents suggested an increased risk of additive disorders after bariatric surgery contrasting with a reduced risk with GLP-1RAs.

Shading stress promotes lignin biosynthesis in soybean seed coat and consequently extends seed longevity.

The macromolecular components of the seed coat, particularly lignin, play a critical role in regulating seed viability. In the maize-soybean intercropping (MSI) system, shading stress was reported to enhance the viability of soybean seeds. However, the specific role of seed coat lignin in this process remains poorly understood.

The impact of glidants on the rheological properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients: A study of conventional and alternative flow enhancers.

Nowadays, most of the newly developed active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) consist of cohesive particles with a mean particle size of <100μm, a wide particle size distribution (PSD) and a tendency to agglomerate, therefore they are difficult to handle in continuous manufacturing (CM) lines. The current paper focuses on the impact of various glidants on the bulk properties of difficult-to-handle APIs. Three challenging powders were included: two extremely cohesive APIs (acetaminophen micronized (APAPμ) and metoprolol tartrate (MPT)) which previously have shown processing issues during different stages of the continuous direct compression (CDC)-line and a spray dried placebo (SD) powder containing hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), known for its sub-optimal flow with a high specific surface area (SSA) and low density.

Effect of overweight and obesity on live birth rate in single euploid frozen embryo transfers.

Research Question: Does endometrial preparation using a natural cycle lead to higher live birth rates (LBR) in single euploid frozen embryo transfers (FET) compared with programmed cycles, for women who are normal weight, overweight and obese.

Design: Retrospective study of 845 single euploid FETs from 688 couples. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into normal weight, overweight and obesity class I/II categories.

High-precision Cu isotopic analysis of human dietary Cu sources via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry.

The disruption of Cu homeostasis is associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases and can result in alterations in Cu isotope fractionation. Changes in the Cu isotope ratio (Cu/Cu) of body fluids and tissues have been observed in liver disorders, cancers, and other diseases, displaying diagnostic/prognostic potential. However, it is not entirely clear whether certain physiological or lifestyle factors may also influence the bodily Cu isotopic composition, potentially obfuscating the signature of the pathology.

Trauma exposure as a risk factor of major depressive disorder: A matched case-control study.

The association between childhood trauma (CT), stressful life events (SLE) and the onset and severity of major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to investigate the separate and combined association of CT and SLE with the onset and severity of MDD. A total of 503 patients with MDD and 503 controls were included.

Structure-Based Optimization of Pyridone α-Ketoamides as Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease.

The main protease M is a clinically validated target to treat infections by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Among the first reported M inhibitors was the peptidomimetic α-ketoamide , whose cocrystal structure with M paved the way for multiple lead-finding studies. We established structure-activity relationships for the series by modifying residues at the P1', P3, and P4 sites.

A unified approach to SimpleTreat input and settings for wastewater treatment removal predictions.

SimpleTreat has become a common tool used in ecological risk assessments to estimate the removal efficiency of a chemical from a secondary wastewater treatment plant and hence inform on release to the environment. Organization A, Organization B, and Organization C performed a comparative study of SimpleTreat predictions and parameter selection methodologies across the three organizations. SimpleTreat versions 3.

Determination of the carrier temperature in weakly confined semiconductor nanocrystals using time-resolved optical spectroscopy.

Many applications of nanocrystals rely on their use in light detection and emission. In recent years, nanocrystals with more relaxed carrier confinement, including so-called 'bulk' and 2D implementations, have made their stake. In such systems, the charge carriers generated after (photo-)excitation are spread over a semi-continuous density of states, behaviour controlled by the carrier temperature .

Crispant analysis in zebrafish as a tool for rapid functional screening of disease-causing genes for bone fragility.

Heritable fragile bone disorders (FBDs), ranging from multifactorial to rare monogenic conditions, are characterized by an elevated fracture risk. Validating causative genes and understanding their mechanisms remain challenging. We assessed a semi-high throughput zebrafish screening platform for rapid in vivo functional testing of candidate FBD genes.

Percutaneous treatment of de Quervain's disease using Sono-Instruments®: A feasibility study.

We investigated the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous release for de Quervain's disease using Sono-Instruments® in cadaveric specimens. The mean procedure duration was 4 minutes, and complete release was achieved in all specimens.

Detecting two circulating antigens - CCA and CAA - in urine and serum to improve diagnosis of human schistosomiasis.

Background: Schistosomiasis is caused by infection with parasitic worms and affects more than 250 million people globally. The detection of schistosome derived circulating cathodic and anodic antigens (CCA and CAA) has proven highly valuable for detecting active infections, causing both intestinal and urinary schistosomiasis.

Aim: The combined detection of CCA and CAA was explored to improve accuracy in detecting infections.