An evaluation of mepolizumab as an add-on maintenance treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma.

Introduction: Clinical experience with anti-interleukin (IL)-5 biologic therapies for severe asthma has been increasing, alongside deeper and broader research focusing on the role of IL-5 and the IL-5 targeted mepolizumab. This review aims to provide an update of the evidence on the role of IL-5 and mepolizumab, with discussions of the benefits of mepolizumab and its future potential, to promote the comprehension of the pathophysiology and therapeutic approaches to asthma.

Areas Covered: For this narrative review, we conducted a database search in PubMed and Embase using the keywords 'IL-5' and 'mepolizumab,' focusing on randomized controlled trials and real-world studies up to September 2024.

Responsive Surfactant-Driven Morphology Transformation of Block Copolymer Microparticles.

Block copolymer (BCP) microparticles, which exhibit rapid change of morphology and physicochemical property in response to external stimuli, represent a promising avenue for the development of programmable smart materials. Among the methods available for generating BCP microparticles with adjustable morphologies, the confined assembly of BCPs within emulsions has emerged as a particularly facile and versatile approach. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of responsive surfactants in modulating interfacial interactions at the oil-water interface, which facilitates controlled BCP microparticle morphology.

Planar Pentacoordinate Bromine in Global Minimum Br6Li5.

Delocalized multicenter bonds play a crucial role in clusters with a planar hypercoordinate center(s), making it difficult for highly electronegative elements, especially halogen atoms, to achieve the planar hypercoordinate arrangement. Herein, we introduce a star-like cluster Br6Li5-, whose global minimum contains a planar pentacoordinate bromine (ppBr). In this cluster, the central ppBr atom coordinates with five alkali metal Li atoms, which in turn bridge an equal number of electronegative Br atoms in the periphery, leading to the formation of the binary cluster Br6Li5-.

Bayesian Borrowing With Multiple Heterogeneous Historical Studies Using Order Restricted Normalized Power Prior.

The recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance on complex innovative trial designs acknowledges the use of Bayesian strategies to incorporate historical information based on clinical expertise and data similarity.

Three-Plane Calcaneal Osteotomy With Joint Preservation vs Subtalar Arthrodesis to Treat Painful Calcaneal Fracture Malunions.

Background: Calcaneal fracture malunion (CFM) commonly occurs with multiple pathologic changes and progressive pain and difficulty walking. The purpose of this study was to propose a modified 3-plane joint-preserving osteotomy for the treatment of CFM with subtalar joint incongruence, and to compare its efficacy to subtalar arthrodesis.

Methods: A retrospective comparative analysis of the data of 56 patients with CFM admitted from January 2017 to December 2022 was performed.

The Effects of Exergaming on the Depressive Symptoms of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Depressive symptoms are common among people with dementia (PWD). Exergaming consisting of combined cognitive and physical training in gaming is increasingly used to alleviate their depressive symptoms in research. With its potential synergistic neurobiological and psychosocial effects on reducing depressive symptoms among PWD, this review aimed to understand its effectiveness and contents.

Patterns of Treatment and Real-World Outcomes of Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations Receiving Mobocertinib: The EXTRACT Study.

Background: Real-world data regarding patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutations receiving mobocertinib are limited. This study describes these patients' characteristics and outcomes.

Methods: A chart review was conducted across three countries (Canada, France, and Hong Kong), abstracting data from eligible patients (NCT05207423).

Isoferulic Acid Inhibits Proliferation and Migration of Pancreatic Cancer Cells, and Promotes the Apoptosis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells in a Mitochondria-Dependent Manner Through Inhibiting NF-κB Signalling Pathway.

Isoferulic acid (IA), a derivative of cinnamic acid, is derived from Danshen and exhibits anticancer properties by disrupting cancer cell activities. However, its role in pancreatic cancer, the "king of cancer", was unknown. In this study, pancreatic cancer cells were subjected to treatment with IA (6.

A genomic variation map provides insights into potato evolution and key agronomic traits.

Hybrid potato breeding based on diploid inbred lines is transforming the way of genetic improvement of this staple food crop, which requires a deep understanding of potato domestication and differentiation. Here, we resequenced 314 diploid wild and landrace accessions to generate a variome map of 47,203,407 variants. Using the variome map, we discovered the reshaping of tuber transcriptome during potato domestication, characterized genome-wide differentiation between landrace groups Stenotomum and Phureja, and identified a jasmonic acid biosynthetic gene possibly affecting tuber dormancy period.

Two pathogen-inducible UDP-glycosyltransferases, UGT73C3 and UGT73C4, catalyze the glycosylation of pinoresinol to promote plant immunity in Arabidopsis.

UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) constitute the largest glycosyltransferase family in the plant kingdom. They are responsible for transferring sugar moieties onto various small molecules to control many metabolic processes. However, their physiological significance in plants is largely unknown.

Moral expression of "experts" and public engagement: Communicating COVID-19 vaccines on Facebook public pages in Chinese.

This research investigates the moral frames employed by diverse Chinese-speaking "experts" on their Facebook public pages in relation to COVID-19 vaccines, leveraging Moral Foundations Theory for analysis. The analysis highlights that experts predominantly employ moral frames emphasizing care and authority in communicating COVID-19 vaccines. However, the moral frames of care, loyalty, and fairness are more effective in garnering public support.

Involvement of PRDX6 in the protective role of MANF in acute lung injury in rats.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe respiratory disease with high mortality, mainly due to overactivated oxidative stress and subsequent pyroptosis. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF), an inducible secretory endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress protein, inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). However, the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Cost-Effective Day Surgery for Arteriovenous Fistula Stenosis: A Viable Model for Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND For patients with end-stage renal disease, arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are often used for hemodialysis, but stenosis can impair their function. Traditional inpatient procedures to address AVF stenosis are effective but resource-intensive, prompting the need for alternative approaches like day surgery to optimize care and reduce costs. This study evaluated the feasibility of a day surgery model for AVF stenosis treatment in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, aiming to develop a cost-effective and high-quality care model.

Preserving Cervical Mobility: A Novel Robot-Assisted Approach for Atlas Fracture Fixation.

BACKGROUND The management of unstable atlas fractures remains a subject of ongoing debate and controversy. The conservative surgical treatment commonly involves fusion, resulting in severe loss of cervical spine mobility, and a large incisions and extensive tissue dissection are required. We aim to introduce a novel concept and surgical approach for treating atlas fracture, one that involves minimizing trauma while maintaining mobility of the upper cervical spine without resorting to fusion.

Optical Based Methods for Water Monitoring in Biological Tissue.

Skin homeostasis is strongly dependent on its hydration levels, making skin water content measurement vital across various fields, including medicine, cosmetology, and sports science. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques are particularly relevant for clinical applications due to their minimal risk of side effects. A range of optical methods have been developed for this purpose, each with unique physical principles, advantages, and limitations.

The Impact of Sleep Position Preferences on the Sleep Quality, Comfort and Catheter Care Quality in Patients After Endoscopic Nasobiliary Drainage: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aims And Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of sleep position preferences (SPP) on sleep quality, comfort and catheter care quality in patients after endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD).

Design: This was an observational prospective study.

Methods: This study included 167 participants with common bile duct stones (CBDS) who underwent ENBD from the gallstone ward of a hospital as a convenience sample.

Screening of Insertion Sites and Tags on EV-A71 VP1 Protein for Recombinant Virus Construction.

This study aimed to create a new recombinant virus by modifying the EV-A71 capsid protein, serving as a useful tool and model for studying human Enteroviruses. We developed a new screening method using EV-A71 pseudovirus particles to systematically identify suitable insertion sites and tag types in the VP1 capsid protein. The pseudovirus's infectivity and replication can be assessed by measuring postinfection luciferase signals.

Enhanced Immunogenicity and Affinity with A35R-Fc-Based Chimeric Protein Compared to MPXV A35R Protein.

The re-emergence of the mpox pandemic poses considerable challenges to human health and societal development. There is an urgent need for effective prevention and treatment strategies against the mpox virus (MPXV). In this study, we focused on the A35R protein and created a chimeric A35R-Fc protein by fusing the Fc region of IgG to its C-terminal.

Genomic, Evolutionary, and Pathogenic Characterization of a New in Traditional Chinese Medicine .

, a medicinal herbaceous plant documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a promising candidate for research into plant-derived pharmaceuticals. However, the study of newly emerging viruses that threaten the cultivation of remains limited. In this study, plants exhibiting symptoms such as leaf yellowing, mottled leaves, and vein chlorosis were collected and subjected to RNA sequencing to identify potential viral pathogens.

Inovirus-Encoded Peptides Induce Specific Toxicity in .

is a common opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial infections. The primary treatment for infections typically involves antibiotics, which can lead to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. Therefore, there is a pressing need for safe and effective alternative methods.

Clinical Performance of MAGLUMI Diagnostic Tests for the Automated Detection of Dengue Virus.

Aims: The screening and diagnosis of dengue virus infection play a crucial role in controlling the epidemic of dengue fever, highlighting the urgent need for a highly sensitive, simple, and rapid laboratory testing method. This study aims to assess the clinical performance of MAGLUMI Denv NS1 in detecting dengue virus NS1 antigen.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the sensitivity and specificity of MAGLUMI Denv NS1 using residual samples.

Comparative Analysis of Hemagglutination Inhibition and Plaque Reduction Neutralization Tests for Japanese Encephalitis Virus Antibody Detection.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), belonging to the family. Diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis (JE) based on clinical signs alone is challenging due to the high proportion of subclinical cases. The Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) is considered the gold standard for detecting JE-specific antibodies because of its high specificity.