Efficacy and safety of daprodustat in patients on peritoneal dialysis in the ASCEND-D trial.

Background And Hypothesis: Daprodustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, is approved for treatment of anemia in dialysis patients with CKD in some parts of the world. This subgroup analysis examined the efficacy and safety of daprodustat versus darbepoetin alfa in patients with anemia of CKD undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: ASCEND-D (NCT02879305) was an open-label, Phase 3 trial; patients with CKD were randomized to daprodustat daily and epoetin alfa (HD patients) or darbepoetin alfa (PD patients).

Inflammatory Potential of the Diet and Risk of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Association between dietary factors and the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been studied extensively. However, identification of deleterious dietary patterns merits further study.

Aim: To investigate the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) according to the inflammatory score of the diet (ISD) in the multinational European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.

Next step towards point-of-care molecular diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS): evaluation of an instrument-free LAMP procedure.

Detection of spp. DNA in gynaecological samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is considered to be the reference diagnostic test for female genital schistosomiasis (FGS). However, qPCR needs expensive laboratory procedures and highly trained technicians.

Ethnic Differences in Atrial Fibrillation in the United Kingdom.

Background: Within the United States, White individuals experience a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) while exhibiting a lower AF-related stroke risk compared to other ethnic groups. It is possible that these observations stem from phenomena unique to the United States, such as differential health care access. The United Kingdom provides socialized medicine, which ostensibly promotes equitable health care access.

Sex differences in atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the Kerala-AF registry.

Background: Much data informing sex differences in atrial fibrillation (AF) comes from Western cohorts. In this analysis, we describe sex differences in Kerala, India, using the Kerala-AF registry-the largest AF registry from the Indian subcontinent.

Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years were recruited from 53 hospitals across Kerala.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for fibromyalgia: are we there yet?

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has increasingly been used to modify cortical maladaptive plastic changes shown to occur in fibromyalgia (FM) and to correlate with symptoms. Evidence for its efficacy is currently inconclusive, mainly due to heterogeneity of stimulation parameters used in trials available to date. Here, we reviewed the current evidence on the use of rTMS for FM control in the format of a narrative review, in which a systematic dissection of the different stimulation parameters would be possible.

Community health nurses' concerns about infant regulatory problems are predictive of mental disorders diagnosed at hospital: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Regulatory problems of eating, sleeping, and crying in infancy may index mental health vulnerability in older ages, and knowledge is needed to inform strategies to break the developmental trajectories of dysregulation in early childhood. In this study, we examined the prospective associations between infant regulatory problems at the age of 8-10 months identified by community health nurses (CHN) and mental disorders diagnosed in hospital settings in children aged 1-8 years.

Methods: From a cohort of all newborn children in 15 municipalities in the Capital Region of Copenhagen ( = 43,922) we included all children who were examined by CHNs at the scheduled home visit at the age of 8-10 months ( = 36,338).

Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis: The Energy Efficiency Challenge.

We discuss the challenges associated with achieving high energy efficiency in electrochemical ammonia synthesis at near-ambient conditions. The current Li-mediated process has a theoretical maximum energy efficiency of ∼28%, since Li deposition gives rise to a very large effective overpotential. As a starting point toward finding electrocatalysts with lower effective overpotentials, we show that one reason why Li and alkaline earth metals work as N reduction electrocatalysts at ambient conditions is that the thermal elemental processes, N dissociation and NH desorption, are both facile at room temperature for these metals.

The Mellow Babies parenting programme: role of group processes and interpersonal change mechanisms.

Introduction: Group-based parenting programmes have specific mechanisms of change compared to individual delivery. The Mechanisms of Action in Group-based Interventions framework (MAGI); distinguishes between interpersonal and intrapersonal mechanisms of change. This paper articulates a theory of change for Mellow Babies, a 14-week attachment-based group parenting programme for mothers of infants aged under 18 months, identifying the inter and intrapersonal change processes.

The importance of group factors in the delivery of group-based parenting programmes: a process evaluation of Mellow Babies.

Introduction: The role of the group has been largely overlooked within evaluations of group-based parenting programmes. Group contextual factors, including size and level of homogeneity, may impact on essential group processes, such as group identification and cohesion, that are necessary to activate interpersonal change mechanisms and attain programme outcomes. This process evaluation of Mellow Babies, a 14-week attachment-based group parenting programme for mothers of infants aged under 18 months, explores how group context affected mother and practitioner experiences of the programme.

Targeting synthesis of the Chromosome Replication Initiator Protein DnaA by antisense PNA-peptide conjugates in .

Initiation of chromosome replication is an essential stage of the bacterial cell cycle that is controlled by the DnaA protein. With the aim of developing novel antimicrobials, we have targeted the initiation of DNA replication, using antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), directed against DnaA translation. A series of anti-DnaA PNA conjugated to lysine-rich bacterial penetrating peptides (PNA-BPPs) were designed to block DnaA translation.

Multi-omics characterization of improved cognitive functions in Parkinson's disease patients after the combined metabolic activator treatment: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase II trial.

Parkinson's disease is primarily marked by mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities. We recently reported that the combined metabolic activators improved the immunohistochemical parameters and behavioural functions in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease animal models and the cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease patients. These metabolic activators serve as the precursors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and glutathione, and they can be used to activate mitochondrial metabolism and eventually treat mitochondrial dysfunction.

Cochlear implantation in adults with acquired single-sided deafness improves cortical processing and comprehension of speech presented to the non-implanted ears: a longitudinal EEG study.

Former studies have established that individuals with a cochlear implant (CI) for treating single-sided deafness experience improved speech processing after implantation. However, it is not clear how each ear contributes separately to improve speech perception over time at the behavioural and neural level. In this longitudinal EEG study with four different time points, we measured neural activity in response to various temporally and spectrally degraded spoken words presented monaurally to the CI and non-CI ears (5 left and 5 right ears) in 10 single-sided CI users and 10 age- and sex-matched individuals with normal hearing.

Lower Bone Mineral Density in Female Elite Athletes With Menstrual Dysfunction From Mixed Sports.

Menstrual dysfunction (MD) in female athletes might be indicative of the syndrome of relative energy deficiency in sports (REDs), associated with, e.g., impaired bone health, an increased risk of injury, and decreased performance.

Effects of Social Structure on Effective Population Size Change Estimates.

Most methods currently used to infer the "demographic history of species" interpret this expression as a history of population size changes. The detection, quantification, and dating of demographic changes often rely on the assumption that population structure can be neglected. However, most vertebrates are typically organized in populations subdivided into social groups that are usually ignored in the interpretation of genetic data.

Helminth extracellular vesicles co-opt host monocytes to drive T cell anergy.

Parasitic helminths secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their host tissues to modulate immune responses, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We demonstrate that Ascaris EVs are efficiently internalised by monocytes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and increase the percentage of classical monocytes. Furthermore, EV treatment of monocytes induced a novel anti-inflammatory phenotype characterised by CD14, CD16, CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) cells.

Planum Temporale Asymmetries in Primates: A Comparative Study in Great Apes and Monkeys.

Objectives: Most human brains exhibit left hemisphere asymmetry for planum temporale (PT) surface area and gray matter volume, which is interpreted as cerebral lateralization for language. Once considered a uniquely human feature, PT asymmetries have now been documented in chimpanzees and olive baboons. The goal of the current study was to further investigate the evolution of PT asymmetries in nonhuman primates.

Determinants of Dropping Out of Remote Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Follow-Up Among Patients With Epilepsy: Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The use of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures is an emerging field in health care. In the Central Denmark Region, epilepsy outpatients can participate in remote PRO-based follow-up by completing a questionnaire at home instead of attending a traditional outpatient appointment. This approach aims to encourage patient engagement and is used in approximately half of all epilepsy outpatient consultations.

Coasting related to taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose limiting adverse effect that may be transient or become persistent after the treatment ended. The taxane paclitaxel induces CIPN in 57-83% of patients treated. The neuropathy may debut or progress after the end of treatment (EOT), known as coasting, but little is known about the incidence of this phenomenon.

Measuring psychological well-being in a danish pregnancy cohort using the self-reported WHO-5 index.

Background: Reduced well-being and depressive episodes frequently complicate pregnancy and can result in serious adverse outcomes for both mother and infant if left untreated. This study aimed to assess the psychometric validity of the 5-item World Health Organization index (WHO-5), and to evaluate if the WHO-5 index can serve as a proxy for two items of core depressive symptoms from the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), identified as MDI-2. Additionally, the paper aimed to assess well-being and detect risk factors of reduced well-being using the WHO-5 index.

An exceptionally rare case of a diffuse midline glioma with concomitant H3.1 K27M and G34R mutations in the HIST1H3C (H3C3) gene.

Histone mutations (H3 K27M, H3 G34R/V) are molecular features defining subtypes of paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas (HGG) (diffuse midline glioma (DMG), H3 K27-altered, diffuse hemispheric glioma (DHG), H3 G34-mutant). The WHO classification recognises in exceptional cases, these mutations co-occur. We report one such case of a 2-year-old female presenting with neurological symptoms; MRI imaging identified a brainstem lesion which was biopsied.

Critical updates on oral insulin drug delivery systems for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. Exogenous insulin can counteract the diminished response to insulin and effectively controlling blood glucose levels, thereby minimizing diabetes-related complications. However, given the injectable nature of exogenous insulin, apprehensions regarding its safety and the difficulties associated with its administration have hindered its widespread and prompt utilization.

Cost-utility and cost-benefit analysis of a multi-component intervention (NEXpro) for neck-related symptoms in Swiss office workers.

Background: Neck pain is a significant public health issue, especially among office workers, with a prevalence ranging from 42 to 68%. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-utility and cost-benefit of a multi-component intervention targeting neck pain in the general population of office workers in Switzerland. The 12-week multi-component intervention consisted of neck exercises, health promotion information workshops, and workplace ergonomics sessions.