Phenotyping atherosclerotic plaque and perivascular adipose tissue: signalling pathways and clinical biomarkers in atherosclerosis.

Computed tomography coronary angiography provides a non-invasive evaluation of coronary artery disease that includes phenotyping of atherosclerotic plaques and the surrounding perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). Image analysis techniques have been developed to quantify atherosclerotic plaque burden and morphology as well as the associated PVAT attenuation, and emerging radiomic approaches can add further contextual information. PVAT attenuation might provide a novel measure of vascular health that could be indicative of the pathogenetic processes implicated in atherosclerosis such as inflammation, fibrosis or increased vascularity.

VSMC-specific TRPC1 deletion attenuates angiotensin II-induced hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling.

Transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1) channel, a Ca-permeable ion channel widely expressed in vasculature, has been reported to be involved in various cardiovascular disorders. However, the pathophysiological function of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-derived TRPC1 in hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular remodeling remains to be defined. In this study, we found increased TRPC1 expression in both angiotensin II (AngII)-treated VSMCs and aortas from AngII-infused mice.

Adverse effects of late sleep on physical health in a large cohort of community-dwelling adults.

Aims: Sleep timing, influenced by chronotype, behavior, and circadian rhythms, is critical for human health. While previous research has linked chronotype to various health outcomes, the impact of aligning sleep timing with chronotype on physical health remains underexplored. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between chronotype, actual sleep timing, and their alignment with a spectrum of physical health outcomes.

Outcomes of maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) by dentofacial class: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this paper was to systematically review and compare the Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI), Lowest O Saturation (LSAT), Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI), Epworth Sleep Scale (ESS), and Body Mass Index (BMI) between dentofacial (skeletal) classes I, II, and III before and after maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). The PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception to 23 November 2022. Two reviewers screened for articles that reported occlusion/malocclusion class type as I, II, or III, and reported preoperative and postoperative AHI, LSAT, ODI, ESS, and/or BMI.

Identifying Quality Improvement Targets After Pediatric Gastrostomy Tube Insertion: A NSQIP-Pediatric Pilot Study.

Background: Gastrostomy tube (GT) placement is one of the most common procedures performed by pediatric surgeons; however, no current national clinical data registry exists to assess GT-specific care processes and morbidity. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIPPed) GT Pilot was created to provide participants with these data. This study aims to analyze these data to identify variability in perioperative practices and post-operative morbidity in pediatric GT operations and to provide targets for future quality improvement (QI) interventions.

Treatment-free Survival After First-line Therapies for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: An International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium Analysis.

Background And Objective: Patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy may experience periods of prolonged disease control without a need for systemic therapy. Treatment-free survival (TFS) is an important measure for this period, but no data are available for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) starting first-line agents. Our aim was to analyze TFS outcomes for patients with mRCC starting first-line therapy.

A retrospective analysis of quality of life domains impacted by distal radius fracture and ulnar neuropathy.

Background: Distal radius fractures (DRF) and ulnar neuropathy (UNE) present with reduced motor function, restricted range of motion, pain, and reduced grip strength that may lead to similar treatment approaches. With rapid and insidious onset for DRF and UNE, respectively, the contextual factors impacting an individuals' experience with the condition can vary.

Purpose: The aim of this secondary analysis is to compare ratings of quality of life (QoL) domains prior to treatment and 3 months post treatment for DRF and UNE.

Assessing the Alignment Between Pharmacists' Reported Tasks and Employer-Advertised Skills.

Objective: This study examined the alignment between and changes within the tasks performed by pharmacists and skills sought by pharmacist employers from 2012 to 2022.

Methods: The United States Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NET) surveys a random sample of employees in targeted occupations every 5 years and provides a publicly available database allowing exploration of the frequency with which essential tasks are performed and perceived relevance and importance. Lightcast (formerly Burning Glass) provides labor market analytics of job advertisements; cross-sectional and longitudinal data can be filtered according to occupation, industry, location, and area of specialty.

[Research progress on the role of calcium ion transport in dental biomineralization].

Tooth development is a complex biomineralization process formed through the interaction between epithelial tissue and mesenchymal tissue. The Ca transport channel is the intrinsic regulatory mechanism of this process, which regulates the concentration of Ca inside and outside the cell in time and space, thereby affecting the biological functions of various cells and the growth of extracellular hydroxyapatite. This article reviews the researches on the effects of Ca transport in tooth biomineralization and corresponding cell development in recent years, with the aim of providing ideas and basis for the prevention of tooth developmental defects, assisting in early clinical diagnosis, and improving treatment methods.

Lemon Juice-Infused PVA Nanofibers for the Development of Sustainable Antioxidant and Antibacterial Electrospun Hydrogel Biomaterials.

Cross-linking bonds adjacent polymer chains into a three-dimensional network. Cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) turns into a hydrogel, insoluble structure exhibiting outstanding sorption properties. As an electrospinnable polymer, PVA enables the creation of nanofibrous hydrogels resembling biological tissues, thus ideal for nature-inspired platforms.

Implications of bacteria‒bacteria interactions within the plant microbiota for plant health and productivity.

Crop production currently relies on the widespread use of agrochemicals to ensure food security. This practice is considered unsustainable, yet has no viable alternative at present. The plant microbiota can fulfil various functions for its host, some of which could be the basis for developing sustainable protection and fertilization strategies for plants without relying on chemicals.

Short-Term Hormonal Changes Following Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction among Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: Findings from a Large Longitudinal Prospective Multicentric Study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate possible hormonal changes following microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) across three referral centers.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively analyzed data from 102 consecutive NOA men. Patients with prior hormonal therapies were excluded.

Bringing the Patient Voice into Workplace-Based Assessment of Pharmacy Learners: An Interpretive Description Study.

Objectives: This study sought to explore how patients view their involvement in pharmacy learner assessment by comparing and contrasting patients' and pharmacy learners' perspectives on learner skills patients are capable of providing feedback on.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study informed by interpretive description methodology and situated in a pharmacist-led clinic that serves as a teaching site for pharmacy learners. We interviewed ten patients who were cared for by a pharmacy learner and ten pharmacy learners who were completing clerkship training.

Comparison of different guidance strategies to percutaneous coronary intervention: A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: The results of randomized clinical trials comparing the outcomes of different strategies for driving PCI are mixed, and it remains unclear which technique for driving PCI offers the greatest benefit. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical efficacy of different techniques to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We search major electronic databases for randomized clinical trials evaluating clinical outcomes of PCI with stent implantation guided by coronary angiography (CA), fractional flow reserve (FFR), instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Brief Report: Evaluating Early-Stage Lung Cancer Survival Patterns in Patients at the Upper Age Limit for Lung Cancer Screening.

Introduction: Older individuals have an elevated lung cancer risk but may also have significant comorbidities that preclude curative treatment options and limit the survival benefits of screening. The objective of this study was to assess early-stage lung cancer survival patterns among those at the upper age limit for screening and identify older individuals who have potential to benefit from for lung cancer screening.

Methods: We identified all early stage (I or II) lung cancers diagnosed in Alberta, Canada between 2010 and 2020.

Validation of a novel tool for automated tooth modelling by fusion of CBCT-derived roots with the respective IOS-derived crowns.

Objectives: To validate a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool for automated tooth modelling by fusing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-derived roots with corresponding intraoral scanner (IOS)-derived crowns.

Methods: A retrospective dataset of 30 patients, comprising 30 CBCT scans and 55 IOS dental arches, was used to evaluate the fusion model at full arch and single tooth levels. AI-fused models were compared with CBCT tooth segmentation using point-to-point surface distances-reported as median surface distance (MSD), root mean square distance (RMSD), and Hausdorff distance (HD)- alongside visual assessments.

The dual endothelin A and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist sparsentan (FILSPARI®) exhibits a safe nonclinical male fertility toxicity profile.

Marketed endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) have been associated with testicular tubular atrophy and decreases in male animal fertility in chronic toxicity studies in rats and dogs. Consistent with these findings, reduced sperm count has been observed in the clinical setting and is considered a potential class risk with chronic administration of ERAs. In contrast, no such effects on male animal fertility are noted with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) treatment.