Optimizing Drug Selection in Children with Multiple Sclerosis: What Do We Know and What Remains Unanswered?

Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) refers to multiple sclerosis with onset before 18 years of age. It is characterized by a more inflammatory course, more frequent clinical relapses, and a greater number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions compared with adult-onset MS (AOMS), leading to significant impacts on both disability progression and cognitive outcomes in affected individuals. Managing POMS presents distinct challenges due to the unique needs of pediatric patients and the limited number of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved for pediatric use.

Association between serum endocan levels and organ failure in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure is a syndrome characterized by organ failure and high short-term mortality. The lack of reliable biomarkers for the early detection of acute-on-chronic liver failure is a significant challenge. Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the development of organ failure.

Effects of Oral Nutritional Supplement on Postoperative Orthognathic Surgery Patients' Nutritional Status: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Orthognathic surgery often leads to decreased nutrient intake and increased metabolic demands, potentially resulting in muscle mass loss and delayed recovery. The use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) alongside nutritional counselling has been proposed to mitigate these effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ONS on the postoperative nutritional status of patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Platinum nanoparticles wrapped in carbon-dot-films as oxygen reduction reaction catalysts prepared by solution plasma sputtering.

Fuel cells have become increasingly important in recent years because of their high energy efficiency and low environmental impact. However, key challenges remain in the widespread adoption of fuel-cell vehicles, including reducing Pt usage in catalysts and improving their durability. In this study, a high-performance Pt@carbon-dot-film core-shell catalyst was successfully synthesized using a nonequilibrium reaction field, , solution plasma (SP) process, by adjusting the electrolyte pH.

A dual antioxidant and antimicrobial bioplastic film endowed with amine-branched poly(lactic acid): Bioactive packaging for electron beam sterilization and food shelf-life extension.

Cyclic amine-multibranched poly(lactic acid) (mPLA) was prepared as a dual antioxidant and antimicrobial toward PLA active packaging for food shelf-life extension in a case study of bread. The mPLA was coupled with piperidine (PPR) containing a heterocyclic amine derivative, which is a nature-rich bioactive function. The functions of mPLA-PPR enhancing the PLA film performance were studied in comparison with PPR, mPLA and Tinuvin® 770.

Osteogenic Induction Activity of Magnesium Chloride on Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells.

Objectives: Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are promising for regenerative therapies due to their self-renewal and multilineage differentiation, essential for periodontal tissue repair. Although magnesium plays a vital role in bone metabolism, its specific effects on PDLSCs and potential applications in regeneration are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSCs (hPDLSCs).

Gene correction of Wiskott-Aldrich-syndrome iPS cells rescues proplatelet defects and improves platelet size.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a severe X-linked disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the WAS gene, responsible for encoding WASP, a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton in all hematopoietic cells except red blood cells. The mechanism underlying microthrombocytopenia, a distinctive feature of WAS and a major contributor to mortality, remains not fully elucidated. In this study, using different gene editing strategies, we corrected mutations in patient-derived WAS-induced pluripotent stem cell lines, generating isogeneic WAS iPSC lines.

Building global collaborative research networks in paediatric critical care: a roadmap.

Paediatric critical care units are designed for children at a vulnerable stage of development, yet the evidence base for practice and policy in paediatric critical care remains scarce. In this Health Policy, we present a roadmap providing strategic guidance for international paediatric critical care trials. We convened a multidisciplinary group of 32 paediatric critical care experts from six continents representing paediatric critical care research networks and groups.

Production of probiotic bacterial cellulose with improved yield, mechanical properties, and antibacterial activity from cost-effective coculture and mixed-culture fermentation in coconut water by Komagataeibacter xylinus MSKU 12.

We successfully enhanced bacterial cellulose (BC) production in low-cost coconut water (CW) at 37 °C by low-nutrient adaptation of Komagataeibacter xylinus MSKU 12. In this study, the BC yield was significantly increased by simultaneous coculture fermentation of MSKU 12 with Saccharomyces bayanus in Hestrin-Schramm (HS) and CW media. Coculture fermentation at 30 °C produced BC yields of 13.

Temporal bone thickness analysis in craniofacial anomalies: key considerations for bone conduction hearing implants.

Purpose: This study analyzes temporal bone thickness in pediatric craniofacial anomalies patients to determine the optimal age for preoperative high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and enhance surgical planning of bone conduction hearing implants.

Methods: A retrospective examination of 370 temporal bone HRCT scans from 158 pediatric patients with craniofacial anomalies was conducted. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and correlation between age and skull thickness.

Blood loss in one-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty: cruciate-retaining vs. posterior stabilized. A propensity score-matched analysis.

Introduction: Although single-stage bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) presents several advantages, higher perioperative blood loss is a potentiate drawback that is still inevitable. Cruciate retaining (CR) TKA may theoretically result in less blood loss, offer better proprioception, and more physiologic kinematics compared to posterior stabilized (PS) TKA. The objective of this study was to compare perioperative blood loss and recovery among patients who underwent CR and PS BTKA.

Impact of Lipid Parameters on Visual Acuity Change in Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy.

Purpose: To assess the potential influence of serum biochemical factors, specifically lipid profile parameters, on visual outcomes in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Patients And Methods: All patients diagnosed with NAION at Rajavithi Hospital between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was defined as visual recovery, measured by an improvement of at least 0.

Nitrided Ti-6Al-4V: A Catalyst for Increase Mineralization and Osteogenic Marker Expression.

Plasma nitriding is one of the surface modifications that show more effectiveness than other methods. In this study, the plasma-based ion implantation (PBII) technique was performed on the surface of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V, Ti64) using a mixture of nitrogen (N) and argon (Ar), resulting in a plasma-nitrided surface (TiN-Ti64). The surface composition of the TiN-Ti64 was verified through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Penetrating keratoplasty versus deep anteriror lamellar keratoplasty for macular corneal dystrophy: A meta-analysis.

We assessed the efficacy of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and penetrating (PK) for macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) We searched on 4 databases for articles published up to the end of April, 2024. The study's outcome was postoperative visual acuity and other factors that may affect visual outcomes (e.g.

Relationship of Structural Abnormalities of Papillary Muscles to the Site of Origin of Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Background: Arrhythmias originating from papillary muscles (PAPs) can be challenging when targeted with catheter ablation. The prevalence and impact of structural abnormalities on PAPs in patients with focal PAP arrhythmias is unknown.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze, in a consecutive patient series with focal PAP arrhythmias, the impact of structural abnormalities detected by multimodality imaging.

ACSL3 is an unfavorable prognostic marker in cholangiocarcinoma patients and confers ferroptosis resistance in cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a bile duct malignancy. Our previous comprehensive analysis showed that ferroptosis-related genes can stratify CCA patients into low-risk and high-risk groups based on survival time. Here, we explored the role of ferroptosis in CCA by analyzing mRNA expression in CCA patients from public databases.

Effectiveness and acceptability of a 24-h interval versus a 48-h interval between mifepristone intake and misoprostol administration for in-hospital abortion at 9-20 gestational weeks: an international, open-label, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.

Background: Optimising management of second-trimester medical abortion is important, as complications increase with gestational age. We aimed to compare a 24-h interval with a 48-h interval between mifepristone intake and misoprostol administration in in-hospital, second-trimester medical abortion for effectiveness and acceptability.

Methods: This open-label, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial was conducted at nine hospitals in India, Sweden, Thailand, and Viet Nam among adults undergoing medical abortion for a singleton viable pregnancy at a gestation of between 9 weeks and 20 weeks.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Terminal Sensory Articular Nerves Before Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery Improved Early Postoperative Functional Outcomes: A Pilot Study With 3 Months Follow-up.

Introduction: Chronic shoulder pain caused by a rotator cuff tear is commonly treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery (ARCR). However, ARCR may be associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain, and poorly controlled pain can result in delayed functional recovery and the development of frozen shoulder. Terminal sensory articular nerve radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been shown to be clinically effective in patients with severe refractory shoulder pain from multiple etiologies.

Cave-dwelling phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Thailand: population composition and pathogen detection of Bartonella and Trypanosoma.

Background: Leishmaniasis is an emerging vector-borne disease that occurs in Thailand. Although Leishmania (Mundinia) parasites, the causative agents of the disease have been identified, the vectors of the disease remain unidentified. In the present study, we collected sand flies from three caves located in endemic areas of leishmaniasis, including Lampang and Chiang Rai in northern Thailand, and Songkhla in southern Thailand.

Mycobiology of Dental Unit Water: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Fungi present in Dental Unit Water (DUW) can pose a health hazard to patients and dental personnel. Yet, the issue of fungal contamination of DUW and their conduits, DUW Lines (DUWLs) has been poorly addressed despite a growing body of data on the subject. In this comprehensive review, we aim to address this gap by examining the diverse fungal contaminants found in DUW, the challenges associated with controlling their growth within waterline biofilms, and the various measures employed for fungal decontamination.