Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity Using the Aqueous Extract of Pterodon emarginatus Seeds.

The decline in research for new antimicrobials, combined with the rise in bacterial resistance, has become a critical issue that is expected to worsen over time. As an alternative, health sciences have integrated materials engineering to develop new bioactive compounds through the interaction of nanoparticles with plant-derived compounds. These compounds offer advantages such as high bioavailability and low cost, exemplified by , a plant native to the Brazilian Cerrado.

Neural fields for 3D tracking of anatomy and surgical instruments in monocular laparoscopic video clips.

Laparoscopic video tracking primarily focuses on two target types: surgical instruments and anatomy. The former could be used for skill assessment, while the latter is necessary for the projection of virtual overlays. Where instrument and anatomy tracking have often been considered two separate problems, in this article, a method is proposed for joint tracking of all structures simultaneously.

PRIO - a prospective integrative oncology registry: trial protocol.

Background: Integrative Oncology (IO) - the use of lifestyle modifications, mind-body practices and natural products in oncology - is increasingly asked for by patients. The evidence base of IO is growing and IO measures are included in national guidelines. Still, many questions about IO remain unanswered or still show a poor evidence base.

Dysregulation of Myelination in Focal Cortical Dysplasia Type II of the Human Frontal Lobe.

Focal cortical dysplasias (FCDs) are local malformations of the human neocortex and a leading cause of intractable epilepsy. FCDs are classified into different subtypes including FCD IIa and IIb, characterized by a blurred gray-white matter boundary or a transmantle sign indicating abnormal white matter myelination. Recently, we have shown that myelination is also compromised in the gray matter of FCD IIa of the temporal lobe.

Sunken flap following chest tube placement in the presence of ventriculopleural shunt: a case report.

Background: The sunken flap or sinking skin flap syndrome is a complication that can be observed following decompressive craniectomy. More rare, sinking skin flap syndrome can occur as an iatrogenic complication of pleural effusion evacuation via chest tube placement in the presence of ventriculopleural shunt.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a Hispanic male patient in his 20s who presented to the emergency department after sustaining a penetrating gunshot wound to the head.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and With Reduced Ejection Fraction According to the Prognostic Nutritional Index: Findings From PARADIGM-HF and PARAGON-HF.

Background: The importance of nutritional status is underappreciated in patients with heart failure (HF). This study aimed to describe the range of the prognostic nutrition index (PNI), and the clinical characteristics and outcomes according to PNI, in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The primary outcome was the composite of HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death.

Long-term outcomes of unselected patients undergoing coronary angiography according to the presence or absence of type II diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The study investigates long-term outcomes of unselected inpatients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (CA) with and without diabetes mellitus type II (T2DM).

Background: Due to continual shifts in demographics and advancements in treating cardiovascular disease, there has been a notable evolution in the types of patients undergoing CA over the past decades. Comprehensive data on the extended outcomes of CA patients, both with and without concurrent T2DM, remains scarce.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy in trauma patients with grade IV-V duodenal or pancreatic injuries: a post hoc analysis of an EAST multicenter trial.

Introduction: The utility of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for high-grade traumatic injuries remains unclear and data surrounding its use are limited. We hypothesized that PD does not result in improved outcomes when compared with non-PD surgical management of grade IV-V pancreaticoduodenal injuries.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter analysis from 35 level 1 trauma centers from January 2010 to December 2020.

HERV reactivation by adenovirus infection is associated with viral immune regulation.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), which are normally silenced by methylation or mutation, can be reactivated by a variety of environmental factors, including infection with exogenous viruses. In this work, we investigated the transcriptional activity of HERVs following infection of human liver cells (HepaRG) with human adenovirus C serotype 5 (HAdV-C5). HAdV-C5 infection results in reactivation of several HERV groups as well as differentially expressed genes.

Molecular Profiling Identifies CD49d and CD79b as Predictive Markers for Acquired Acalabrutinib Resistance in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Contemporary studies of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) resistance focus on mutations in the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway, but alternative mechanisms of resistance remain undefined. Here, we sought to identify novel predictive markers of acquired resistance to acalabrutinib, a second-generation BTKi, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Clinical samples from 41 patients with relapsed/refractory or treatment-naive CLL receiving acalabrutinib as part of a clinical trial (NCT02029443) were divided into two groups: those who continued to respond to treatment (NP, n = 23) and those who developed progressive disease on acalabrutinib therapy (PD, n = 18).

Application of four pricing models for orphan medicines: a case study for lumasiran.

Background: The combination of high prices and uncertain effectiveness is a growing challenge in the field of orphan medicines, hampering health technology assessments. Hence, new methods for establishing price benchmarks might be necessary to support reimbursement negotiations. In this study, we applied several pricing models containing cost-based elements to the case of lumasiran for treating primary hyperoxaluria type 1.

Early Albumin Administration in Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: The clinical outcome and fluid balance of patients with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) or after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) may be improved by addressing the high fluid demand with an early albumin administration.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, patients supported with VA ECMO or eCPR received early albumin administration (25 g/L) to prime the VA ECMO system. These patients were compared to patients who received a regimen based solely on balanced crystalloids (crystalloid group) or a regimen based on a 1:4 volume mixture of albumin (10 g/L) and balanced crystalloids (albumin group).

Isolated Right Ventricular Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Findings and Histopathology of an Atypical Presentation.

Cardiac metastases are a rare site for metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We describe an atypical presentation of an isolated right ventricular metastasis of HCC following successful treatment with no evidence of primary disease recurrence. The case presented as gradually worsening hypertension and erythrocytosis in the setting of normal surveillance scans and alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Clinical and demographic factors modify the association between plasma phosphorylated tau-181 and cognition.

Introduction: Plasma phosphorylated tau-181 (p-tau181) associations with global cognition and memory are clear, but the link between p-tau181 with other cognitive domains and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) across the clinical spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and how this association changes based on genetic and demographic factors is poorly understood.

Methods: Participants were drawn from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) and included 1185 adults >55 years of age with plasma p-tau181 and neuropsychological test data. Linear regression models related plasma p-tau181 to neuropsychological composite and SCD scores with follow-up models examining plasma p-tau181 interactions with cognitive diagnosis, apolipoprotein E ε4 carrier status, age, and sex on cognitive outcomes.

The Group-basEd Telehealth behavioral WEight Loss Program Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot and Feasibility Study.

Objective: Obesity is related to the recurrence of breast cancer. In-person groups or individual telephone counseling currently comprise the behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs tested for cancer survivors. Group support via telehealth may be convenient and provide support from fellow survivors, but feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy testing are needed.

Perforated anterior tenia coli-type appendicitis in a case of vermiform appendix duplex in a toddler: a case report.

Duplication of the vermiform appendix is a rare anomaly observed in patients undergoing appendectomy. A 27-month-old male toddler presented with a 9-day history of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, progressing to an acute abdomen with signs of severe peritonitis. Intraoperative findings revealed a periappendicular infiltrate from a perforated vermiform appendix of the tenia coli type.

Heart Failure After Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Comprehensive Analysis from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background: The incidence of HF following ACS remains unacceptably high at discharge and several identified risk factors contribute to the development of HF in this context.

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of HF in patients admitted to the Clinic for Heart, Blood Vessels, and Rheumatic Diseases at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo following ACS.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at the Clinic for Heart, Blood Vessels, and Rheumatic Diseases of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo between February 1 and April 1, 2023, involving patients who were admitted because of ACS.

The Role of Modifying Risk Factors as Well as Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Hip to Waist Ratio as Anthropometric Indicators and Parameters of Obesity in the Occurence of Stroke.

Background: Evaluated values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumeference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) increase the risk of stroke, but the extent to which this is mediated by hypertension, diabetes, lipid status, smoking and alcohol consumption is not fully understood.

Objective: The aim of this research is to examine the influence of modifying and non-modifying factors as well as obesity defined through BMI, WC and WHR on the occurrence of stroke.

Methods: A total of 440 subjects were included in the cohort divided in to two groups.

Health Professionals' Perception of the Importance of Teamwork and Factors Influencing Teamwork - a Quantitative Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Considering the highly sophisticated activities and the environment in which the work is carried out. It is extremely important to establish a well-organized and efficient team that will contribute to raising the quality of professional activity through its work, and in this way influence the greater satisfaction of patients and their families, but at the same time also reduce stress levels among health professionals. The efficiency of the work is primarily correlated with the exceptional communication of the members within the team.

Exploration of histone protein γ-H2AX as a prognostic factor in soft tissue sarcomas and its association with biological behavior, immune cell environment and survival in leiomyosarcoma.

This study evaluates the H2AX/γ-H2AX expression in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), its implications for biological behavior and immune environment, and its potential as a prognostic biomarker. RNA-Seq data from 237 STS were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. Patients were stratified by H2AX mRNA expression using a survival-associated cutoff.

Cancer-related pain in long-term survivors of oncological diseases: results of a survey on the current care situation.

Purpose: The increasing survival rates of oncology patients have led to a corresponding increase in long-time survivors living with chronic cancer-related pain. Data is scarce on the care situation for this distinct clinical entity and on specific therapy requirements, such as interdisciplinary, multimodal pain therapy (IMPT). Our cross-sectional study aimed to assess the current care situation, distinct chronification factors, and optimization potential.

Modeling heterogeneity in the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Cohort studies with comprehensive follow-up periods that track patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and gather extensive health data are important for understanding the diverse progression patterns of CKD. This review explores the potential of emerging analytical techniques that can be applied in addition to conventional analysis approaches to enhance CKD research, by offering more detailed insights into disease progression. To maximize the insights available from CKD cohort data with extended follow-up, we examined two advanced approaches: analysis of disease trajectories and of recurrent events.

Cone beam computed tomography - Frequency and exposure settings at University (Dental) hospitals in Central and Northern Europe.

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of CBCT scans, the exposure settings, volume sizes and the patient demographics (age and sex) of patients undergoing CBCT scans in university-based dental hospitals in different European countries over a one-year period.

Method: Eight University Dental Hospitals from eight countries in central and northern Europe agreed to collect data from their CBCT-databases. Exposure data including field of view (FOV), dose area product (DAP) and optimization settings plus (anonymous) age and sex of the patients were collected for the entire year 2023.